Shionogi may apply for oral COVID pill approval next week in Japan

Japanese pharmaceutical firm Shionogi & Co. said Monday it is looking to apply for approval of its oral COVID-19 drug as early as next week after mid-phase clinical trials showed it was effective in reducing the coronavirus in the body.The results of "Phase 2a" clinical trials of the drug known as S-217622 are "extremely good," Shionogi President Isao Teshirogi said during a press conference. If approved, it would be the first such pill developed by a Japanese drugmaker.The company said it intends to file for conditional early approval by the health ministry, aiming to start supplying betwe…READ FULL ARTICLE