Gilead Sciences Inc’s remdesivir has been approved as a treatment for COVID-19, by Japan’s health ministry making it the country’s first officially approved drug for corona virus. This decision was arrived at by the government as an emergency measure as a result of the mass destruction caused by this disease. This is touted to be given to patients suffering from severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Japan, with its 16,000+ cases and over 800 deaths is behind other similarly developed countries. But, with the rate increasing rapidly, the country’s president Shinzo Abe has extended the emergency period to a month, in an attempt to slow the spread.
Earlier this week, the US’ Food and Drug administration had granted authorisation for the drug to be used.
In addition to this, the US-based company is in talks with other companies across the world including generic drug producers in India and Pakistan to produce this drug in large numbers.