Fujifilm Partners With Dr. Reddy’s to Sell Avigan for COVID-19

Japanese drugmaker Fujifilm is partnering with India’s Dr. Reddy’s and Dubai-based Global Response Aid (GRA) to manufacture and sell its influenza drug Avigan (favipiravir) for the treatment of COVID-19.

Under the partnership agreement, Dr. Reddy’s and GRA will have exclusive rights to manufacture, sell and distribute Avigan globally except in Japan, China and Russia. Fujifilm will receive an upfront licensing fee and royalties on sales.

In addition, Fujifilm will provide Dr. Reddy’s and GRA with preclinical and clinical data on Avigan so far for use in other studies investigating the drug for the treatment of COVID-19. The Japanese drugmaker will also grant Dr. Reddy’s the right to use the patents it holds on Avigan’s formulation and manufacturing method.

Avigan was approved in Japan in 2014 as a treatment for influenza. Fujifilm is currently studying the antiviral as a COVID-19 treatment in Japan and the U.S. — Jordan Williams