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Fujifilm says it is prepared to ramp up production of Avigan for any country that wants to try it as a potential treatment for COVID-19. But even as it has restarted production, the Japanese drugmaker feels compelled to set the record straight about the influenza drug. “Avigan has never been distributed in the market and is not available at hospitals and pharmacies in Japan or overseas,” it said in an announcement
The drug, developed by Fujifilm unit Toyama Chemical, was approved in 2014 as an influenza treatment but only to be used if other treatments prove ineffective against a novel or re-emerging influenza virus. The Japanese company issued the clarification Friday as interest in the drug builds. That follows reports that clinical trials of the drug in China showed it effective against COVID-19. Over the weekend, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government would begin trials of the drug on COVID-19 in cooperation with other countries and ramp up production with the aim of a quick approval, the Nikkei Asia Review reports.
Company's Update (March 27, 2020):
