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TOKYO: Gilead Sciences Inc’s antiviral drug remdesivir may be approved in Japan for COVID-19 domestic patients when the health ministry’s review board is held on Thursday, Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said.
Remdesivir received emergency use authorization last week from the US Food and Drug Administration. USA For COVID-19, the highly contagious lung disease caused by the new coronavirus, and Gilead applied for fast-track approval in Japan on Monday.
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Kato said on a television news show on Tuesday (May 5) that if the review board gives its consent, it plans to approve it immediately.
“Once imported, we would like to be used by those suffering from serious conditions as soon as possible,” said Kato.
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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extended a nationwide state of emergency on Monday until May 31, saying the new rate of coronavirus infection had not yet dropped enough to justify final measures to curb the outbreak.
Even though Japan has not seen a major outbreak compared to some global hotspots, there are more than 16,000 recorded cases, including 712 from the previously quarantined cruise ship in Yokohama and 579 deaths, according to NHK public broadcaster.
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