There is the risk of a new wave of infections with the novel coronavirus this winter. The government and medical institutions should study the effective use of medicine to prevent patients from developing severe symptoms.
Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co. has announced the results of a clinical trial for Avigan, saying the drug intended for new strains of influenza is also effective against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The company plans to apply for approval as a COVID-19 treatment as soon as this month.
If approved, Avigan will be the third drug available in Japan for treating COVID-19, following the antiviral drug remdesivir and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone. The two earlier drugs were intended for patients with severe symptoms, but Avigan is intended for people with less severe conditions, making it an additional treatment option, which is significant.
Avigan drew attention when then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a press conference that he aims for the drug "to be approved in May." Expectations have been raised regarding the drug's effectiveness, in part because people in the entertainment industry and others who have been administered it have reportedly recovered.
However, because the number of infected patients temporarily decreased, the number of patients needed for the clinical trial could not be secured and the application for approval was greatly delayed.
In other countries, there are cases where approval is so rushed that confirmation of the effectiveness and safety of a drug becomes negligent. It was a reasonable response to continue the clinical trials until those factors were confirmed.
A clinical trial is a process of administering medication to a large number of patients and comparing them to a group of patients not receiving the medication to see if there is a statistical difference. The group of patients who were not administered Avigan took 14.7 days to recover, while the group taking Avigan took 11.9 days to recover.
However, there are fears of side effects such as adverse effects on fetuses. In their treatment guidelines, the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and other organizations have made a "weak recommendation" for the administration of Avigan to those with mild symptoms. The government must conduct an objective review to determine whether to approve the drug.
In this summer's resurgence of novel coronavirus infections, the number of people infected increased, but the number of deaths was kept under control. The proper use of different drugs, such as dexamethasone, might have prevented the severity of the disease. This background must be used to establish future treatment methods.
Vaccine development is progressing in many countries, but it is unclear when and in what quantities it will be supplied. Even if vaccination starts, there is a risk that it may not be effective or may cause serious side effects, so it is unclear whether a vaccine will be a decisive factor in curbing the pandemic.
Excessive expectations should not be placed on therapeutic drugs and vaccines that are still in the exploratory stage. The habit of preventing infections must continue to be carried out and the number of people infected must be controlled.
All current therapeutic drugs were repurposed from existing drugs developed for the treatment of other diseases. The government must take a long-term view and strive for the new development of a wonder drug.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Oct. 4, 2020.
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