Fujifilm’s antiviral Avigan (favipiravir) has shown promise as a COVID-19 treatment in a phase 3 trial in Japan.

The study, which began in March, compared the drug to a placebo in 156 COVID-19 patients with nonsevere pneumonia. Patients treated with Avigan showed improvement after 11.9 days, compared to 14.6 days in the placebo group. 

The company said it will conduct a detailed analysis of the data and plans to file for approval of the drug in Japan for this indication as soon as next month. Avigan was previously approved in Japan as a treatment for influenza.