Fujifilm starts production of Avigan for the treatment of Ebola

Japan’s Fujifilm says it has decided to start production of the anti-influenza drug Avigan (favipiravir) 200mg tablets in preparation for administration to a larger number of patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD) overseas to counter the spread of EVD. The drug was approved in Japan as an anti-influenza treatment in March 2014.

Avigan tablets were developed by Fujifilm group company Toyama Chemical as an anti-influenza drug. Some research papers report that Avigan also shows efficacy against the Ebola virus in animal testing with mice, and Avigan has already been administered as an emergency treatment to several EVD patients evacuated from West Africa to Europe. Fujifilm provided Avigan to these patients in response to requests from governments and medical organizations treating the evacuated patients following discussions with the Japanese government.

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