PH ready for Japan's Fujifilm Avigan drug trials for COVID-19 treatment

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the Philippines is ready to participate in Fujifilm Avigan flu-drug Clinical trials for possible COVID-19 treatment.

Fujifilm Avigan

PH ready for clinical trials?

During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit via video conference for COVID-19 held last April 14, 2020, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles reiterated that the Philippines is ready to participate in clinical trials for potential treatments like Avigan.

Avigan is the brand name of the anti-flu drug Favipiravir that is manufactured by Fujifilm's subsidiary Toyama Chemical.

Nograles added that Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that there are 50 countries that are interested in studying the drug (Avigan) further and that the President Duterte 'had an exchange' with Prime Minister Abe regarding Avigan during the ASEAN meeting.

We reported that China has confirmed that according to several clinical trials, Japan's Fujifilm Avigan drug used to treat Influenza (Flu) is effective in treating COVID-19 patients. You can read more about it at this link.

In a follow-up report, Japan will be giving the Avigan drug for free to countries that will need it to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.

What do you guys think?

Source: Rappler