Japan May Soon Approve Remdesivir for COVID-19

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the country may soon approve Gilead’s remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19.

The approval “will be possible shortly," Abe said during a parliamentary session Monday.

The approval would be the first for the promising antiviral that is under clinical investigation in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

There have been mixed reports in recent weeks from clinical trials of remdesivir. Chinese researchers reported that the drug showed no benefit, while unconfirmed early results from a study at the University of Chicago were more promising (DID, April 17). — Jordan Williams