Japan provides Avigan tablets to Philippines for trial vs COVID-19

August 7, 2020

Japan has provided anti-viral flu drug Avigan to the Philippines for possible coronavirus treatment, its embassy said Thursday.

Avigan tablets will be tested on 100 patients, saying its donation of the drug is part of its emergency grant aid to countries severely affected by COVID-19.

"Japan-made anti-flu drug Avigan has drawn interest from many countries for its potential to prevent viral replication, even as its effectiveness against the novel coronavirus is yet to be established," an embassy statement said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Philippines received around 199,000 Avigan tablets from Japan for the trials.

Each recipient government, the embassy said, "has acknowledged of Avigan’s proper usage and prescription in view of its known adverse side effects."

"Japan hopes that this ongoing cooperation with the Philippines would further contribute to the advancement of clinical research to contain the COVID-19 pandemic," the embassy said.

The Philippines has one of the highest number of COVID-19 in Asia. DMS