Researchers at the Pharmacology Faculty of Shahid Beheshti University have for the first time synthesized Favipiravir drug or Avigan in Iran, Ali Akbar Velayati, president of Tehran’s Masih Daneshvari hospital announced Sunday.

Velayati, who is also an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, was speaking at a press conference after recovering from coronavirus.

The senior physician said the Iranian-made Avigan drug has been given to Masih Daneshvari hospital and used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in compliance with the medical ethics and at the discretion of the medical ethics committee of the hospital.

He also noted that Masih Daneshvari hospital is treating the coronavirus patients free of charge indeed.

Avigan is an anti-flu drug invented by Japan’s Fujifilm Holding Corporation. The drug was approved for use in Japan in 2014. Avigan is being tested in China as a treatment for COVID-19.

Local media reported on Sunday that Japan was hoping to triple the production of the drug from current levels, which is enough to treat 700,000 people if used by coronavirus patients.

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Clinical trials of Avigan are now underway in Japan to examine the effectiveness and safety of the drug for potential use in treating symptoms caused by the new coronavirus.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Friday that the government has so far received requests for the drug from about 30 countries.

Suga said the government plans to expand clinical trials of Avigan while having discussions with the countries that placed the requests, NHK reported.

He added that it will provide each of those nations with the amount of the drug they need, free of charge.

The German government reportedly plans to procure millions of packs of Avigan to treat coronavirus patients with severe illness.

Researchers in China say that Avigan proved effective in clinical trials with people infected with the coronavirus.

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