Foreign Minister Reinsalu:
Estonia is the first country to receive the potential COVID-19 medication Avigan from Japan for research
The Estonian Embassy in Japan
was presented with a shipment of Avigan (the acting substance of which is favipiravir) by the Japanese government, due to arrive in Estonia next week.
“The fact that Estonia is receiving Avigan from Japan is a great example of international cooperation in a crisis,”
Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said.
“I spoke to my Japanese colleague Toshimitsu Motegi on Thursday and thanked him,” the foreign minister said.
Avigan was developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Fujifilm Toyama Chemicals to be used as a flu medicine.
After the outbreak of the pandemic, the Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the Estonian Agency of Medicines has looked into ways to obtain Avigan, taking part in clinical trials and its possible use for treating COVID-19.
More than 80 countries have submitted applications to Japan for participating in trials and testing the experimental use of Avigan in the treatment of COVID-19.
Japan issued the medicine for free for human trials in the framework of international cooperation,
and Estonia is obligated to share the results of its clinical research with Japan.Ministry of Foreign Affairs