Japan plans to ship the anti-flu drug Avigan to 43 countries after its holiday period ends this Wednesday. The drug is seen as a potential treatment for people infected with the coronavirus.

Each country will receive enough Avigan, which is also known as favipiravir, to treat between 20 and 100 people.

Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu said on Friday that nearly 80 countries have requested free supplies of Avigan, which was developed by a Japanese company.

He said the first batches will be delivered to the 43 countries through a UN organization. Recipient countries will then send clinical trial data to Japan.

Motegi said taming the pandemic will require the development of effective remedies in the short term. He said there are hopes that Avigan will serve as an early-stage treatment for the coronavirus.

Motegi added that Japan will press ahead with public-private partnerships and international cooperation in the search for curative drugs.

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Japan has indicated plans to triple its stockpile of Avigan, enough to treat 2 million people.

Avigan has been found effective against a wide range of types and subtypes of influenza viruses, including strains resistant to existing anti-influenza drugs. 

And it shows anti-viral activities against other RNA viruses such as arenaviruses, bunyaviruses, and filoviruses, all of which are known to cause fatal hemorrhagic fever.

Japan has been conducting various clinical studies with Avigan after Chinese scientists suggested it had been effective in treating COVID-19 disease patients, especially those with mild symptoms.

China has previously said it will officially adopt Avigan as part of its treatment guidelines for this coronavirus disease.

However, there are concerns Avigan may cause birth defects. Therefore, Japan says ‘it cannot be used on pregnant women.’