Photo: Albert Truuväärt / commons.wikimedia.org

Urmas Reinsalu

Photo: Albert Truuväärt / commons.wikimedia.org

The government of Japan handed over to the Estonian Embassy in Tokyo, a shipment of the drug Avigan, potential drugs against coronavirus. The drug will arrive in the destination country this week, reported “Interfax” on Sunday, the press service of the foreign Ministry of Estonia.

Estonia will take part in the research on possibility of use of Avigan to treat COVID-19.

“The fact that Estonia will receive from the Japanese drug Avigan, is a very good example of international cooperation in a crisis situation. I spoke Thursday with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi and thanked him,” – said the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Republic Urmas Reinsalu.

Avigan developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Fujifilm’s Toyama Chemicals, a division of Fujifilm Corporation as a medicine against flu. After the outbreak of the Estonian foreign Ministry was studying the possibility of receiving Avigan to participate in studies of its use in the treatment of COVID-19.

Japan has provided a cure for human studies free of charge in the framework of international cooperation. As noted in the Ministry of foreign Affairs, Estonia in response obligated to share with Japan the results of clinical trials.

Requests for Avigan for testing and experimental use for treatment COVID-19 sent Japan more than 80 countries.

It is assumed that Avigan suit patients with mild symptoms of the coronavirus. However, it is contraindicated in pregnant women due to the risk of malformations in the fetus.