Favipiravir already experienced in Japan and China

Photo: EPA

The government of Japan handed Italy avigan (active substance favipiravir) at the Estonian Embassy in Tokyo, the drug will be tested for effectiveness against the coronavirus infection COVID-19. About it on may 10, reported the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Estonia.

Of the drug initially designed to treat influenza, will arrive in Estonia next week.

“The fact that Estonia will get from Japan the drug avigan is a very good example of international cooperation in a crisis situation. May 7, I spoke to a Japanese colleague, Toshimitsu Motegi and thanked him,” – said the head of the Estonian foreign Ministry Urmas Reinsalu.

The drug was transferred to Japan free of charge in the framework of international cooperation, Estonia is obliged to share the results of clinical trials. Avigan will be administered to people infected with coronavirus.

Estonia was the first country which will receive the drug for clinical trials. Only about 80 countries have asked Japan to send them avigan, among them – Ukraine.

In Japan substance favipiravir used in the treatment COVID-19 Feb. Noted that it makes the disease. According to Chinese authorities, the Japanese drug against influenza during the trial clinical trials in Wuhan and Shenzhen have demonstrated “good performance”. The Nikkei newspaper said that in experiments it was found that favipiravir can cause fetal death in animals, in this regard, the medication with this active ingredient can not be taken by pregnant women.

Flash coronavirus infection COVID-19 began in China in late 2019. March 11, the world health organization declared the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the American Johns Hopkins University on 10 may, the total number of infected people in the world exceeded of 4.04 million, of which more than 1.38 million recovered, and 279,6 thousand died. In Estonia there are 1739 cases, 60 people have died, 750 were recovered.