Japanese pharmaceutical company Shionogi said Sunday that an experimental treatment from the company showed it could quickly clear the virus that causes COVID-19.
Shionogi said in a statement that the development of the new drug, labelled S-217622, ”demonstrates rapid clearance of the infectious new coronavirus,” citing Phase 2b results of the drug’s second/third clinical trial.
Under Evaluation
The company has global expectations for the antiviral tablet, which is currently under evaluation by Japanese regulators.
The results of the Covid-19 disease study, released Sunday, showed “no significant difference in the total score of 12 COVID-19 symptoms among the treatment groups,” although the drug’s composite score improved five “breathing and fever” symptoms.
The drugmaker said in March that it would launch a global Phase 3 clinical trial of the drug with U.S. government support.