Japan's success in curbing Covid-19 cases now hampers search for cures | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
September 27, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Japan's success in curbing Covid-19 cases now hampers search for cures

Coronavirus chronicle

24 June, 2020, 06:15 pm
Last modified: 24 June, 2020, 06:18 pm

Related News

  • South Korea, Japan, China agree to hold summit at 'earliest convenient time'
  • After US approval, Japan okays its first Alzheimer's drug
  • Social media inspires Japanese women to dash into rickshaw pulling
  • China willing to work with South Korea ahead of summit with Japan: Xi
  • Bangladesh needs multiple choices for better bargaining in foreign financial proposals: Japanese expert

Japan's success in curbing Covid-19 cases now hampers search for cures

Clinical trials are underway for more than a dozen potential vaccines, including at least six in China, but Japan’s first human trials are expected to start next month

24 June, 2020, 06:15 pm
Last modified: 24 June, 2020, 06:18 pm
Medical workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) are seen through a plastic sheet as they work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at St. Marianna Medical University Hospital in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan May 4, 2020/Reuters
Medical workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) are seen through a plastic sheet as they work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at St. Marianna Medical University Hospital in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan May 4, 2020/Reuters

As nations race to develop treatments and vaccines for Covid-19, Japan has become a victim of its own success as slowing new infections has led to a shortage of patients to enroll in clinical trials.

Clinical trials are underway for more than a dozen potential vaccines, including at least six in China, but Japan's first human trials are expected to start next month.

In development of treatments, Russia and India approved Fujifilm Holdings Corp's Avigan as a Covid-19 therapy, but Japan, whose Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has touted the drug's potential and hoped to approve it in May, won't see a decision until at least July.

"Due to the decreasing number of coronavirus infections, we believe it will take some time before clinical research is completed," said Tetsuya Nakamura, who is running a trial of Avigan at Gunma University Hospital in central Japan.

"It's a pity that Avigan has been approved overseas but not in Japan."

Japan has fared better than most developed nations in tackling the disease that has killed more than 470,000 worldwide. While the epidemic drove Japan's medical system to the brink of collapse in recent months, serious cases now number about 60 nationwide.

Some 54 Covid-19 related clinical trials have been launched in Japan, but most are still in the patient recruitment phase, according to trials' tracking data.

Interest in Avigan, known generically as favipiravir, soared in March after a Chinese official said it appeared to help patients recover from Covid-19. It is now the subject of at least 25 clinical trials around the world.

The regulatory delay on Avigan is partly due to the fact that the studies should have been carried out in multiple countries at once, said Dr. Nakamura. But such studies are "enormously expensive."

Fujifilm said it is working to complete the clinical trials "as soon as possible."

Slideshow (2 Images)

Japanese biotech firm Healios KK said in April it intended to add Covid-19 patients to its experimental lung therapy trial but has not enlisted any as yet.

"We were careful to size the cohort in light of the low number of patients in Japan, and so are only seeking to enroll around five patients," CFO Richard Kincaid said.

With a dearth of domestic patients, Japan may have to rely more on overseas data and results to aid in regulatory approvals. That practice is common "if the quality of data is considered to be good enough," according to health ministry official Yasuyuki Sahara.

Sahara did not comment on the Russia or Indian approvals of Avigan and whether data from those nations could be used in Japan. The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Japan's primary drug regulator, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Japan

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
    Bangladesh again tops in global ship recycling even after 65% decline
  • Top BCB official asked me to sit out or bat lower down in Afghanistan game: Tamim on why he opted out from WC squad
    Top BCB official asked me to sit out or bat lower down in Afghanistan game: Tamim on why he opted out from WC squad
  • BFIU suspends 21,725 MFS accounts over online gambling, hundi
    BFIU suspends 21,725 MFS accounts over online gambling, hundi

MOST VIEWED

  • US dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken on 10 March 2023. Photo: Reuters
    Taka weakens even further
  • The Fitch Ratings logo is seen at their offices at Canary Wharf financial district in London,Britain, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Reinhard Krause
    Fitch now rates Bangladesh's foreign debt outlook negative
  • Experts say Dhaka has at least 18 times more than the population it can actually support. Photo: Rajib Dhar
    DAP relaxes floor area ratio, planners raise concerns over Dhaka's livability
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder. Photo: Collected
    Global Finance's report card: Why Bangladesh Bank governor got D. Who got A+?
  • US dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken on 10 March 2023. Photo: Reuters
    Cenbank unaware of US restriction on ACU, seeks info from RBI
  • Why Biman struggles to overcome pilot shortage
    Why Biman struggles to overcome pilot shortage

Related News

  • South Korea, Japan, China agree to hold summit at 'earliest convenient time'
  • After US approval, Japan okays its first Alzheimer's drug
  • Social media inspires Japanese women to dash into rickshaw pulling
  • China willing to work with South Korea ahead of summit with Japan: Xi
  • Bangladesh needs multiple choices for better bargaining in foreign financial proposals: Japanese expert

Features

More than 86 lakh Bangladeshis went abroad as migrant workers in the last 14 years, according to BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training). Naturally, these workers return to Bangladesh at some point to settle down. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Why migrant workers have a hard time back at home

9h | Panorama
What impact will a forward forex rate have?

What impact will a forward forex rate have?

10h | Panorama
India-Canada clash should be a wakeup call

India-Canada clash should be a wakeup call

1d | Panorama
It is highly unlikely that inflation rate is going to come down soon. PHOTO: TBS

No more central bank loans to the govt: Will it be enough to curb inflation?

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Nafees Iqbal removed from team role on Shakib's request

Nafees Iqbal removed from team role on Shakib's request

3h | TBS SPORTS
Fitch rates Bangladesh's foreign debt outlook negative

Fitch rates Bangladesh's foreign debt outlook negative

7h | TBS Economy
How dependent is Canada's economy on India?

How dependent is Canada's economy on India?

22h | TBS World
IMEC; Is the main objective to stop China?

IMEC; Is the main objective to stop China?

21h | TBS World
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]