Shionogi confirms efficacy of oral COVID drug for omicron subvariant

Osaka – Japanese pharmaceutical firm Shionogi & Co. said Wednesday its oral COVID-19 drug currently under development has been confirmed in preclinical testing to be effective against the omicron subvariant BA.2.75, which has been detected in Japan.

The announcement came after a health ministry panel in July postponed the granting of emergency approval for the drug. Discussions are slated to resume after the results of the final stage of clinical trials currently underway.