Japan approved Gilead Sciences Inc’s remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 this May 7. That makes it the country’s first officially authorized drug to be used in response to the new coronavirus.
Image Credit: GILEAD SCIENCES via AP
(Philippines set to begin Avigan clinical trials on 100 COVID-19 patients)
“There has so far been no coronavirus medicine available here so it is a significant step for us to approve this drug,” a Japanese health ministry official said at a press briefing.
The Japanese official also said that the drug will be used to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Remdesivir was granted authorization last week by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use for COVID-19. Japan approved the drug for treatment just 3 days after the US drugmaker filed for fast-track approval of remdesivir as COVID-19 treatment.
According to Gilead, the drug has shown to be effective in improving COVID-19 symptoms. Their data suggests the drug works better when administered in the early stages of infection.
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