[Coronavirus] S. Korea considers importing anti-flu drug Avigan from Japan

Health officials disinfect a railway station in Seoul. [Yonhap News Photo]

SEOUL -- With no established cure for a new coronavirus, South Korea considers importing Avigan, an anti-influenza drug produced by a unit of Japan's Fujifilm group as a spike in the number of confirmed cases embarrassed health officials and filled up isolation wards.

Discussion is under way with a state clinical committee on whether to use Avigan for patients infected with COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, a South Korean government health agency. Japan has a stockpile of Avigan for about two million people to prepare for the outbreak of a new type of influenza.

"We are considering measures to introduce (Avigan) by applying import specials," Minister Lee Eui-kyung told a regular briefing on Tuesday. "For now, we know that mainly malaria and AIDS drugs are being used."

South Korean doctors have formed a task force to find proper treatment by mixing antiviral drugs used to treat flu and HIV. Kaletra, an anti-retroviral medication used for AIDS treatment, was commonly applied, but doctors were not sure whether it played a crucial role in treating patients who have fully recovered.

The number of confirmed coronavirus patients has soared to 893 as of Tuesday afternoon. The virus has killed nine people.

Lim Chang-won cwlim34@ajunews.com

[Coronavirus] S. Korea considers importing anti-flu drug Avigan from Japan

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