On Jul. 1, 2020, FUJIFILM announced a partnership with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in India and Global Response Aid, aimed at overseas deployment of a treatment drug for the novel coronavirus infectious disease, or COVID-19.

Based on the Agreement, FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical will provide Dr. Reddy’s and GRA an array of data on Avigan’s preclinical and clinical studies that FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical has accumulated thus far. Dr. Reddy’s and GRA, for their part, will make use of this data to swiftly implement clinical studies, targeting COVID-19 patients in India, the Middle East, and other regions where infections have been spreading.

In addition, FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical will grant Dr. Reddy’s right to use  Avigan’s patents of formulation and manufacturing method. Dr. Reddy’s will herewith establish a setup for manufacturing drugs of the same quality as Avigan, and utilize GRA’s global sales network to supply the manufactured drugs swiftly and in a stable manner.

Dr. Reddy’s is a global pharmaceutical company which develops, manufactures, and sells generic drugs. It has been expanding business not only in India but also in Europe, the US and several other markets across the world and is accelerating its global business development. GRA, a company based in Dubai, offers medical supplies, drugs, and medical services worldwide in cooperation with drug and medical device manufacturers.

Avigan was approved for manufacture and sale in Japan as an anti-influenza virus drug. Because it has a mechanism of action that selectively inhibits viral RNA polymerase, thereby preventing viral proliferation, the drug may potentially have an antiviral effect on the novel coronavirus, as it is classified into the same type of RNA virus as influenza viruses. The Fujifilm Group is currently conducting a clinical study on Avigan targeting COVID-19 patients in Japan and the US, and is working to increase the drug’s production by partnering with domestic and overseas companies.   In urgent need of treatment drug while COVID-19 remains a serious concern, the Fujifilm group will accelerate the development and supply for global deployment of Avigan by partnering with Dr. Reddy’s and GRA. The Fujifilm Group will contribute to ending the pandemic by delivering a treatment drug as soon as possible to patients suffering from COVID-19.