Animal tests of COVID-19 pill raise red flag
17:42 JST, April 13, 2022
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Abnormalities have been confirmed in some fetuses during animal tests for an oral COVID-19 drug developed by Shionogi & Co., which is pending regulatory approval, it has been learned.
Shionogi said data obtained from tests on animals suggest that the drug may not be recommended for use by pregnant women.
According to the company, teratogenic defects were confirmed in some fetuses during animal testing. The novel coronavirus pill has not been tested on expectant mothers during clinical trials.
While it is unknown what wording will be used to warn patients of the matter in the drug’s disclaimer, the wording will be decided by the government, with an official at Shionogi saying, “The phrases [on the warning label] will be decided during the drug review procedures, based on the data from animal testing.”
Shionogi has already reached a basic agreement with the government to supply the drug for 1 million people, based on the premise of the drug getting approved by the government.
The company is also planning to create by the end of fiscal 2022 a production system capable of manufacturing the drug for at least 10 million people every year.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
-
Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
-
Whaling Mother Ship Built in Japan for 1st Time in 73 Years
-
Tsunami Advisory for Okinawa Lifted at Noon (UPDATE 2)
-
U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- Cherry Blossoms Draw Crowd to Tokyo’s Ueno Park; Viewing Season Kicks Off to Slow Start
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- Whaling Mother Ship Built in Japan for 1st Time in 73 Years