(Reuters)
Japan would like to offer a drug to help treat the deadly Ebola virus
before the World Health Organization officially rules on its use, the
country's top government spokesman said on Monday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference that
Japan has received inquiries from some countries on the influenza drug
favipiravir, or T-705 as it is known in the developmental code.
"I am informed that medical professionals could make a request for
T-705 in an emergency even before a decision (on approval) by the WHO.
In that case, we would like to respond under certain criteria," he said.
Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp and U.S. partner MediVector are in talks
with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to submit an application to
expand the use of favipiravir as a treatment for Ebola. [ID:nL4N0QH4ZR]
Following Suga's comments, Fujifilm shares rose 4.0 percent, edging
near a four-year peak hit earlier this month. They were the eighth most
actively traded shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's main board.
The Ebola epidemic in West Africa has killed more than 1,000 people and
prompted the WHO to declare an international health emergency, reports
Reuters.
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