Japanese emergency use nod for Shionogi's SARS-CoV-2 treatment Xocova

Japanese drugmaker Shionogi (TYO: 4507) said yesterday that its Xocova (ensitrelvir fumaric acid, Code No.: S-217622), a novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug for COVID-19 obtained emergency regulatory approval from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan for the indication of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with the news edging the firm’s shares up 2.8% to 7,171 yen.

The company also noted that a contract with the MHLW for the Japanese government to purchase 1 million courses of Xocova is now effective in accordance with the basic agreement for domestic supply of Xocova signed by Shionogi and the MHLW in March 2022.

Shionogi also has a voluntary license agreement for its oral COVID-19 antiviral with the United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), which aims to increase access to life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).