アビガン月内承認断念　有効性データ間に合わず―加藤厚労相

　新型コロナウイルス感染症の治療薬候補アビガンについて、加藤勝信厚生労働相は２６日の閣議後記者会見で、同薬の有効性を示すデータがまだ示されていないとして、５月中の薬事承認を断念したことを明らかにした。安倍晋三首相は４日、「５月中の承認を目指したい」と表明していた。
　加藤厚労相は「来月以降も治験や臨床研究を継続し、有効性が確認され次第、迅速に薬事承認する方針だ」と強調した。（2020/05/26-11:34）

The Japanese government gave up its plan to approve influenza drug Avigan as a coronavirus treatment by the end of this month, health minister Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference Tuesday.
   Kato cited a lack of data showing the drug's effectiveness in the treatment of the disease caused by the new coronavirus. "Clinical trials and researches will continue, and we hope to swiftly approve the drug as soon as its effectiveness is confirmed," he said.
   On May 4, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government will aim for the May approval of Avigan.
   The agent, developed by Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co., a Fujifilm Holdings Corp. subsidiary, is seen as a potential treatment for coronavirus patients with mild symptoms.
   Clinical trials of Avigan on coronavirus patients and clinical researches of the drug by a university are underway, while the risk of birth defects has been found as a side effect.