Tokyo (SCCIJ) – A single tablet that makes influenza not contagious anymore within 24 hours: This dream of doctors and patients is about to be fulfilled by the Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer Shionogi headquartered in Osaka. The Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare has already approved the drug called Xofluza. It will be launched as soon as Japan’s National Health Insurance has fixed the sales price, presumably by May. Development and commercialization of Xofluza are in collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche from Switzerland.
Fast approval in Japan
Shionogi filed for approval to manufacture and sell the drug in October 2017. Xofluza was designated for fast application procedure (Sakigake) with priority review by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan in October 2015. The public interest is easy to see. As the treatment with Xofluza requires only a single oral dose regardless of age, it is very convenient, and is expected to improve adherence. It would not only reduce treatment costs, but also lessen the economic consequences of influenza by rapidly combating the risk of infection.
Innovative anti-influenza drug
Greater antiviral effect than Tamiflu
In a global Phase 3 study in otherwise healthy patients the drug demonstrated a greater antiviral effect than Tamiflu, a drug developed and commercialized by F. Hoffmann-La Roche. One day from the start of treatment, virus titer was reduced to undetectable levels in 50 percent or more of the treated patients, including children. Therefore, the new drug is expected to be effective in suppressing virus transmission in households, schools, workplaces, and general aerosol-mediated infection.
In addition, the treated group in the clinical study had statistically significantly fewer treatment-related adverse events than the Tamiflu group. In comparison, Tamiflu requires two tablets a day for five days. In Japan, children are not allowed to go back to school until five days after they have been diagnosed with influenza. Thus, Xofluza is expected to improve the quality of life in influenza patients by shortening treatment time considerably. According to some press reports, it has to be administered during the stage of infection to be really effective, though. Thus, it probably cannot replace Tamiflu.
About Shionogi
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is a major research-driven pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Osaka. Its research and development currently target two therapeutic areas: infectious diseases, and pain/central nervous system disorders. In the financial year 2017 (ending on March 21, 2018), Shionogi expects consolidated net sales of 345 billion yen and an ordinary income of 132 billion yen. According to its latest results for the period April to December 2017, the company is on track on beating its own forecast.
Text: SCCIJ mainly with material of Shionogi; Photo: flickr/Klaus Rebler CC BY-SA 2.0
