Japan Begins Supplying Remdesivir to Medical Institutions... How Much Have They Secured?

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 12th, NHK reported that Japan has started supplying remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences and anticipated as a treatment for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), to medical institutions.

According to the report, Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Kato Katsunobu stated at a press conference, "We began supplying remdesivir to medical institutions starting yesterday," and added, "We will accurately grasp patient information from medical institutions to ensure that the drug is appropriately delivered to patients in need and supplied properly."

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences in 2009 as a treatment for Ebola. However, it was found to be less effective than other antiviral drugs for treating Ebola, and thus has not been officially approved as a treatment in any country worldwide until now.

Nevertheless, subsequent repeated studies reported its effectiveness against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which drew attention to its potential as a treatment for COVID-19.

On the 1st, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency approval of remdesivir for severe COVID-19 patients, and the Japanese government officially approved remdesivir as a COVID-19 treatment on the 7th.

Meanwhile, regarding how much supply Japan has secured amid limited distribution, Minister Kato said, "Since we are receiving supplies on the condition that the supplier does not disclose this information, we cannot confirm the amount."

In response, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, citing a Ministry of Health official, that "it has been confirmed that a supply request was made for about 600 doses of remdesivir."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.