Japan will supply 43 countries free of charge with medicine for treatment COVID-19

Japan will start a free delivery to 43 countries of the world of a promising COVID-19 treatment. This was announced to journalists on May 1 during a press conference in Tokyo by Foreign Minister Tosimitsu Motegi. This is the drug Avigan, still known in the world under the names Favipiravir and Favilavir. It was developed to treat influenza six years ago, but due to side effects it is on the list of drugs, the use of which can be allowed by the government in special cases. Doctors in China found the effectiveness of the drug in the treatment of pneumonia caused by SARS- CoV -2. As Motegi explained, during telephone conversations with the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of different countries it became clear that there is a great interest in the drug Avigan. Japan has received requests to supply the drug from 80 countries, and there is currently a supply agreement with 43 countries. According to Motegi, the delivery of the drug will begin after the weekend of May 2 and 3, each country will receive a different amount of medicine necessary for treatment from 20 to 100 people. Clinical trials of the drug in Japan began in March this year. 80 patients who contracted coronavirus infection participated in the trial. Currently, the country has a supply of medicine needed to treat two million people. Earlier, the news agency reported that Japan plans to extend the emergency regime due to the coronavirus epidemic in the country for another month, until June.