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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020.Fujifilm to start phase II clinical trial of Avigan for COVID-19 patients in U.S.
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since1981
Last I heard America was testing the following; Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine / Remdesivir / Favipiravir (Avigan) / lLpinavir and Ritonavir
Also, why testing in America? Why not in Japan?
NCIS Reruns
Obviously, to obtain FDA approval.
Badge213
It is being tested in Japan. Plus in a dozen other countries as well.
gaijin_kenshin
Badge213... perhaps you missed the last line, in which they said they're doing stage III trials in Japan...
Pharma companies need to get approved for any country that they do business in, and usually that means doing trials. They can point to success in trials done in another country (ie. Japan) to help get approved in another country (ie. the US), but given that the stage III trials aren't done yet, it won't help much in getting approval in the US.
1glenn
Let us hope for a successful trial.
commanteer
I have heard some amazing test results with Ivermectin, another Japanese drug. Hopefully we will have many options soon.
Michel Reiziger
Almost every nation has now it's 'own' drug with promising hopeful results. Belgium an old Malaria medicine, Netherlands is busy with an antibody medicine, numerous countries are busy with a medicine based on chloricine and favipiravir (Avigan) is a hopeful Japanese drug.
All these are drugs not a vaccine. A vaccine will take at least 1 to 2 years.
Luddite
Pharmaceutical companies announcing trials which mean diddly squat except to their share prices.
Badge213
Maybe you missed that I was responding to another poster who asked why it wasn't being tested in Japan, yes I saw it is stage III that's why I said "it is being tested in Japan".
Mark
Great , but what the world really needs and I mean very desperately needs is the Vaccine, let's all pray to whatever GOD you wish that it happens soon.
garypen
Are you sure you mean Ivermectin? It's been around for a pretty long time. A. I don't think it's a Japanese drug. B. It's a common de-wormer for dogs, and also used for some skin and intestinal parasitic infections on/in humans. So, not really for viral infections.
ian
Seems to be the same thing
ian
Very dramatic results
Chottobaka
I have also read reports that people who have received BCG vaccination (for tuberculosis) have some resistance to this virus. BCG has historically been widely used in Japan -- maybe some potential as a base for a vaccine.
Also saw an interview with a doctor who stated that none of his patients receiving treatment for lupus had contracted the virus, in stark contrast to his patients. So, much anecdotal information is coming out relative to potential off-label drug treatments. Moreover, many of these drugs have been around for years and are largely well tolerated with well understood dosage/side effects. Hopefully, the optimal "cocktail" will be forthcoming.
Michel Reiziger
Even if a vaccine will be found which offers for all (world wide) enough protection we still will be 1-2 years away of it. And then there should be large scale production, production which has to be free of patents to make it as quickly and cheaply as possible available.
I don't want to sound depressing but it's reality and it's explained by many scientists (not populist politicians) worldwide. So the best hope in the short term is a/many proven medicines which can help to cure quicker or to reduce the life threatening symptoms of this virus.
The biggest problem now is that severly ill people have to stay on average 3-5 weeks in intensive care units.
If that already can be reduced to half will be enormous effect.