TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Thursday to increase the use of anti-influenza drug Avigan in treating people with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus quickly spreading across the country.

"Since there have been reports that Avigan has helped ease COVID-19 symptoms, the government will expand the administration of the drug as much as possible to patients who want to use it while paying full attention to safety,” Abe said.

The prime minister made the remarks in a videoconference with senior officials of companies offering support for the production of medical goods like surgical masks and hospital gowns at a time when such items are in short supply amid the virus crisis.

"We must support medical workers on the ground by mobilizing all available resources," Abe said, seeking further support from the companies for increasing production of medical supplies.

"We do make sure that materials of Avigan are supplied as soon as possible," Denka Co. President Manabu Yamamoto said, in response to Abe's requests.

The company said earlier this month that it will resume production of diethyl malonate, a material of Avigan, after ending its output in 2017 due to inflows of cheap foreign products.

Unicharm Corp. President Takahisa Takahara said the company will boost its monthly face mask supplies further.

Shinya Katanozaka, president of major airline group ANA Holdings Inc., said the group plans to cooperate in sewing medical gowns.

JIJI Press