Singapore: Avigan is being provided to clinical trials in Guinea for patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The drug from Japan's Fujifilm Holdings has been given to Ebola patients and tested at clinical trials in Guinea, Western Africa.

The anti-influenza drug Avigan Tablets was developed by the Fujifilm Group company Toyama Chemical. Results of mouse experiments showing the antiviral effect of Avigan Tablets against EVD have been published, and the tablets have already been administered as an emergency response to multiple patients infected with EVD. Following this, from December 17 last year, Inserm conducted clinical trials at four EVD treatment centers in Guinea to investigate the efficacy of Avigan Tablets for the treatment of EVD patients. Interim analysis results from the first 80 cases of this clinical trial have been published.

"Given that the efficacy of Avigan Tablets for the treatment of EVD is suggested, the Fujifilm Group will continue to contribute to the termination of the EVD infection, and fully cooperate with the governments of France and Guinea, as well as the relevant authorities in Japan towards establishing a treatment for EVD," said Mr Takatoshi Ishikawa, senior vice president, general manager of Pharmaceutical Products Division at Fujifilm Corporation.

The Japanese government has announced that it is prepared to provide drugs developed by Japanese companies that might prove effective in the treatment of EVD. Fujifilm will continue to respond to the requests of the various countries with infected patients while discussing with the Japanese government.