Japan’s Avigan drug to be tested in 43 countries as possible coronavirus treatment

Japan’s Avigan drug has been shipped to 43 countries where it will be tested in clinical trials among patients with mild to moderate coronavirus symptoms, CNBC reported on Monday.

The antiviral drug, which is also known as favipiravir, has emerged as a potential drug to treat patients infected with the coronavirus in Japan and China. It has been developed by Japanese company Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Company, a unit of Fujifilm Holdings.

In April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light for the country’s first clinical trial of a Japanese drug.

Three Massachusetts hospitals were given the approval in the same month to launch small trials of the antiviral drug, a doctor involved in the efforts told the Boston Globe. They are Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester.

The drug was hailed by Chinese health officials as “clearly effective” when used on 340 patients in trials in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, showing reduced recovery time and improved lung function.

These patients tested negative for the virus with a median of four days after becoming positive — much lower than the average of 11 days for those who were not given the medicine,  the Guardian reported.

Dr. Keith T. Flaherty from the Massachusetts General Hospital said the study was among the more promising of around 30 clinical trials considered by the hospital.

“We have to prioritise, and this absolutely rose to the top,” Flaherty added.