Japan’s Takeda says blood plasma trials could start in July

Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical said it could begin a clinical trial for a potential treatment as early as July, Reuters reported. The treatment would be based on antibodies from people who have recovered, the news agency said, citing Takeda executives.

If the trial, which would include hundreds of patients, succeeds, then Takeda could file for approval by U.S. authorities later this year, according to Reuters. Still, Takeda said the treatment’s availability beyond the clinical study remains “a bit unclear.”