AsianScientist (Nov. 20, 2014) – Fujifilm Corporation has begun production of the anti-influenza drug Avigan® (Favipiravir) in preparation for the administration to a larger number of patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) overseas to counter the spread of EVD.
Avigan Tablets were developed by Fujifilm Group company Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd. as an anti-influenza drug. Some research papers report that Avigan shows also efficacy against the Ebola virus in animal testing with mice and Avigan has already been administered as an emergency treatment to several EVD patients evacuated from West Africa to Europe.
Fujifilm provided Avigan Tablets to these patients in response to requests from governments and medical organizations treating the evacuated patients following discussions with the Japanese government.
The governments of France and Guinea are planning to conduct clinical trials of Avigan Tablets in Guinea as a treatment for EVD in mid-November. Fujifilm has received a request to provide Avigan Tablets and pharmaceutical information on the product for use in these clinical trials and will continue to coordinate its response in cooperation with the relevant authorities in France, Guinea and Japan.
If this clinical trial shows the efficacy and safety of Avigan Tablets as treatment for EVD, Fujifilm is expected to receive requests to provide the products for large-scale clinical use. Fujifilm currently has stock of Avigan Tablets for 20,000 courses as well as an additional inventory of active pharmaceutical ingredient roughly for 300,000 courses.
In preparation for further clinical use, the company will start production of Avigan Tablets for administration to EVD patients in mid-November. Fujifilm made the decision to ready a larger inventory through additional production in order to ensure a continual supply of a sufficient volume of Avigan if the scale of the infection were to increase further.
The Japanese government has declared its willingness to provide pharmaceuticals developed by Japanese companies to combat the spread of EVD infections should such pharmaceuticals be found to have treatment benefits. Fujifilm, in ongoing consultation with the Japanese government, will continue to respond to the requests of countries experiencing EVD infections.
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Source: Fujifilm Corporation.
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