Japan
would like to offer a drug to help treat the deadly Ebola virus before
the World Health Organization officially rules on its use, the country’s
top government spokesman said on Monday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a
news conference that Japan has received inquiries from some countries
on the influenza drug favipiravir, or T-705 as it is known in the
developmental code.
“I am informed that medical professionals
could make a request for T-705 in an emergency even before a decision
(on approval) by the WHO. In that case, we would like to respond under
certain criteria,” he said.
Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings Corp and U.S.
partner MediVector are in talks with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to submit an application to expand the use of favipiravir
as a treatment for Ebola. [ID:nL4N0QH4ZR]
Following Suga’s comments, Fujifilm shares
rose 4.0 percent, edging near a four-year peak hit earlier this month.
They were the eighth most actively traded shares on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange’s main board.
The
Ebola epidemic in West Africa has killed more than 1,000 people and
prompted the WHO to declare an international health emergency.
(via Yahoo News)
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