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© Thomson Reuters 2020.
A tale of two Japanese drugs in tests to fight COVID-19
By Rocky Swift and Christine Soares TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
21 Comments
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thepersoniamnow
Hopefully Japan can make some good drugs that will help the world and its allies and bring us in some much needed cash!
i@n
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.
garypen
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.
BertieWooster
Of course not!
Perish the thought!
wanderlust
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.
Udondashi
How about Ivermectin ?
i@n
Another one, a cocktail:
TARA TAN KITAOKA
Yes, it is a tale.
Capuchin
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.
Xeno Man
Many lives will be taken by unproven drugs not the disease itself.
drlucifer
Just One official and Chinese for that matter.
Makes sense, why there is chinese interest. Will wait for the clinical test results in the U.S.
spinningplates
If Abe backs it......
It's for the wrong reasons, and involves palm greasing.
Just saying based on past observation.
Bamboozler
@Udondashi
Mate, I'd so love ivermectin to be able to play a role.
Bamboozler
@Udondashi
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.
AlexBecu
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.
raybas
oh..
happyhere
@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?
Ah_so
That's why we do clinical testing to stop people taking them without any accurate knowledge of whether they work.
JeffLee
Saving lives should be the priority - not national pride and money.
n1k1
Excellent news.
The good ol low tech Walkman/Fax Japan.
starpunk
Hope it works out and maybe other countries can get them too.