Posted by Michael Wonder on 07 May 2020
Japan approves Gilead Sciences' remdesivir as COVID-19 drug
7 May 2020 - Japan on Thursday approved Gilead Sciences Inc’s remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19, making it the country’s first officially authorised drug to tackle the coronavirus disease.
Japan reached the decision just three days after the U.S. drug maker filed for fast-track approval for the treatment.
“There has so far been no coronavirus medicine available here so it is a significant step for us to approve this drug,” a Japanese health ministry official said at a press briefing. Remdesivir will be give to patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms, he added.
