Society

Japanese pharma firm hoping for oral drug game changer

Feb 25 (NHK) - Japan's daily case numbers of the coronavirus infections remain relatively high. But there's a potential game changer in the fight against COVID-19.

A Japanese drug maker has applied for fast-track approval for the country's first domestically developed oral treatment.

Health authorities across Japan reported more than 65,000 new infections on Friday. That is about 40,000 less than the peak earlier this month, but the pace of decline has been slow.

More than 30 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, remain under quasi-emergency measures.

The drug, developed by pharmaceutical firm Shionogi, could be Japan's first locally made COVID pill.

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