Fujifilm Offers to Provide Influenza Antiviral to Interested Countries

Fujifilm said it is prepared to work with any governments or regulatory agencies that wish to use its influenza antiviral Avigan (favipiravir) as a treatment for COVID-19.

The drug received Japanese approval in 2014 for treating influenza but it has never seen market distribution and is not available in any hospitals or pharmacies.

“The drug may potentially have an antiviral effect on the novel coronavirus as it is classified into the same type as influenza virus,” Fujifilm said.