An influenza medicine developed by a Japanese company is effective against the new coronavirus, the Chinese government said on Tuesday. Beijing has already begun recommending the drug favipiravir. "It is very safe and clearly effective," said Zhang Xinmin, director of the science ministry's China National Center for Biotechnology Development, in a news conference. Company developed the drug in 2014. It has been administered to coronavirus patients in Japan since February.
On Wednesday, shares in company shot up 15.4% in Tokyo in the afternoon session. Morning trade in the stock was suspended after a glut of buy orders following Beijing's announcement.Clinical trials were conducted on 200 patients at hospitals in Wuhan and Shenzhen. Results showed that patients who received the drug tested negative in a comparatively short time, while pneumonia symptoms were markedly reduced. Patients…
