Japan, China donates drug for COVID-19

29 March 2020 06:58 pm - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka is to use anti-influenza drug ‘AVIGAN’ on COVID-19 patients on an experimental basis from next week, a senior Public official said today.

Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) Dr. Prasanna Gunasena told Daily Mirror that a stock of 5,000 ‘AVIGAN’ tablets would be handed over to the SPC as a gift from Japan and China tomorrow (31) to be given to COVID-19 patients on a trial basis.

“No one must take ‘VIGAN’ as an absolute drug for the recovery of the COVID-19 viral infection. It is up to the physician to decide whether to prescribe the drug for the infected patient. Besides, this drug is used worldwide for Ebola viral infection. However, the tablet can be prescribed as a substitute drug for COVID-19,” Dr. Gunasena said.

Dr. Gunasena added that the consignment of 5,000 drugs is donated by Japan and China as a gift to Sri Lanka from both countries with the approval of Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

If the drug proves as an absolute remedy to cure the viral infection, the SPC would purchase a bigger consignment to be prescribed for patients of the viral infection, he added.(Sandun A. Jayasekera)

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Comments - 10

Gp Sunday, 29 March 2020 07:12 PM

We the third country nationals become the testing ground for drugs, why not try it on people infected in Italy, USA....

Mohd.Ali Sunday, 29 March 2020 07:55 PM

This is the best news I have heard for weeks. Let's hope and pray this works.

Concerned Sunday, 29 March 2020 08:34 PM

There is no cure so far for the COVIID-19. Scientists in Top Universities and Labs in the West are working hard to find the elusive cure. What the Chinese and the Japanese are offering to Sri Lanka are drugs made by the Scientists for previous illnesses in the past. As always the doctors just play with them to see if it works, but these drugs could have side effects.

Dee Monday, 30 March 2020 08:22 AM

Name any drug (including traditional) which does not have side effects!

Harith Sunday, 29 March 2020 08:40 PM

Looks like Japan and China are using Sri Lankan patients as a trial to test the drug. Hope this works and no side effects.

Jaffna Tamil Sunday, 29 March 2020 09:20 PM

Japan and China are not greatly advanced nations as far as Science is concerned, this crisis amply proving this. Sri Lanka should not become dumping round for old drugs that have no scientific correlation to new Pandemics. The only countries on this planet that have the PROPER SCIENTISTS to potentially find a way out of this world predicament are; 1) USA, 2) CANADA, 3)BRITAIN, 4)FRANCE, 5)GERMANY, and 5)RUSSIA.

Entire world suffering because of china Sunday, 29 March 2020 10:33 PM

china you spreaded the corona which killed more than 10000 so far. So better you keep your medicine and treat you people in your country rather than spreading all over the world. The problem is your country people are like bees in every countries. Specially Italy, Spain and USA more Chinese women married European American there than other countries. So here is the results.. now entire world is suffering

TJ Monday, 30 March 2020 08:04 AM

Now we have become the guinea pigs.

upul Monday, 30 March 2020 09:07 AM

Taking some remedial measure whether it is for testing or not is better than dying like a dog

Narasingha Monday, 30 March 2020 08:11 PM

Avigan was invented by Fuji Film, one of most leading Pharma companies in Japan, not by China. Do not worry. It means like Toyota car. Today, the company starts a clinical trial. It means the effects have been almost confirmed in japan. That is why the drug was donated in advance. A report says it healed 70 per of early stage, not critical stage. A pregnant woman or couple with a plan to beget a baby should avoid of it.

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Japan, China donates drug for COVID-19

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