A tale of two Japanese drugs in tests to fight COVID-19

Hopefully Japan can make some good drugs that will help the world and its allies and bring us in some much needed cash!

Camostat has a long track record of safety while avigan is approved only for emergency use because it causes birth defects.

Yet it was avigan that was promoted by Abe and govt.

I'm rooting for camostat, as it appears to have the least side-effects, and has been used relatively safely for other ailments many years.

Both antivirals, Japan's Avigan and the US' remdesivir have pretty limited success, and high rates of negative side effects.

Of course, anything that helps, especially the severe cases of covid-19, is welcome.

"The use of Avigan has nothing to do with the relationship between the Prime Minister and any particular company," she said.

Of course not!

Perish the thought!

Ono Pharmaceuticals should offer to pay for the studies, if they are serious about being an R&D-based company. The potential is there. Or they should play golf with the PM, like the Fujifilm Chairman.

How about Ivermectin ?

Another one, a cocktail:

https://japantoday.com/category/features/health/anti-viral-drug-trio-found-to-shorten-covid-19-illness-in-mild-cases-study

Yes, it is a tale.

"The use of Avigan has nothing to do with the relationship between the Prime Minister and any particular company," she said.

In other words. . . We're not saying that the Prime doesn't have a relationship with that company. Just that the Prime Minister's relationship with that company was allegedly not a factor in his choice to back the that company.

Since Abe can't even reliably produce something as simple as a pair of masks forgive my cynicism in believing that he might in fact be able to provide a vaccine.

Every action the government has taken throughout the pandemic has demonstrated that financial self interest is the priority and the health and lives of the population they are supposed to represent are a secondary concern.

Many lives will be taken by unproven drugs not the disease itself.

Interest in Avigan soared in March after a Chinese official said that it appeared to help patients recover from COVID-19, the flu-like infection caused by the coronavirus.

Just One official and Chinese for that matter.

After being tested against a range of viruses, Avigan was finally approved in Japan in 2014, but only for emergency use against flu epidemics, and it was licensed in China where it has since gone off patent.

Makes sense, why there is chinese interest. Will wait for the clinical test results in the U.S.

If Abe backs it......

It's for the wrong reasons, and involves palm greasing.

Just saying based on past observation.

@Udondashi

How about Ivermectin ?

Mate, I'd so love ivermectin to be able to play a role.

@Udondashi

How about Ivermectin ?

Mate, I'd so love ivermectin to be able to play a role.

On invermectin, it's an anti-parasite medication also shown to be effective as an antiviral in some cases. Active component of Mectizan, Merck/MSD's River-blindness drug. Widely distributed by my favourite charity Sightsavers, and available I believe for free by the drug company (how good is that?). Already part of a wide African initiative, it would be beyond awesome if a $20 funding to save a person's sight could also provide protection of some sort against Covid-19. Live in hope, but these are early days for all drug trials.

Glad to hear progress is made and new treatments are being considered. The world needs it fast. A second wave is possible in the fall.

South Korea had an explosion of cases recently, Germany and China as well.

oh..

@AlexBecu

According to Worldometers, South Korea had 26 new cases and 2 deaths yesterday, same rate as last two weeks, more or less. What explosion are you talking about?

Many lives will be taken by unproven drugs not the disease itself.

That's why we do clinical testing to stop people taking them without any accurate knowledge of whether they work.

Hopefully Japan can make some good drugs that will help the world and its allies and bring us in some much needed cash!

Saving lives should be the priority - not national pride and money.

Excellent news.

The good ol low tech Walkman/Fax Japan.

Hope it works out and maybe other countries can get them too.