The health ministry has granted emergency approval for a COVID-19 pill developed by Shionogi & Co., opening the door for Japan's first domestically produced oral medicine for the virus to become available as soon as early December.
Xocova was the first drug subject to consideration under an emergency approval system established in May to quickly evaluate medications. It requires a prescription from a doctor and will be for patients aged 12 or over who have mild to moderate symptoms. The drug stands apart because even people at low risk of becoming seriously ill can take it.
