Japan has begun clinical trials to test the effectiveness of the anti-flu drug Avigan in treating patients with coronavirus, according to latest report.
Following promising result in China, Japan commenced the trials for the drug which shortens the recovery time for China’s coronavirus patients.
A company spokesman said on Wednesday: “The trial will be conducted on 100 patients until the end of June.
“We will collect data, analyse them and file for approval after that,” he added.
The drug will be administered for a maximum of 14 days to coronavirus patients between 20 and 74 years old with mild pneumonia, the spokesman said.
The study excludes pregnant women due to side effects shown in animal testing, he added.
