Japan Approves Gilead’s Remdesivir as COVID-19 Treatment

Japan has approved Gilead’s remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19, making it the first country to officially approve the antiviral drug for the coronavirus.

Gilead filed for fast-track approval of the drug on Monday in Japan, just days after the FDA granted remdesivir an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for severe COVID-19 patients in the U.S. Japan’s approval reference the EUA issued by the FDA.

Japanese health officials said the drug will be given to patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms.