On the 22nd, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare urgently approved the novel coronavirus treatment drug Xocova (common name: ensitrelvir fumaric acid) produced by Yanyei Pharmaceutical, which will be shipped to medical institutions as early as the same day. The full supply will start on the 28th, and the prescription will be earlier than the original plan in early December.
Xocova is an oral antiviral drug, administered once a day for 5 days, that selectively inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 by suppressing the viral 3CL protease. In the clinical trial, it can effectively shorten the time required for COVID-19 infected people to disappear from the symptoms of tiredness, fever, runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, etc. Yano Yi applied for production and sales approval in Japan on February 25, 2022, based on the results obtained from the Phase 2b portion of the Phase 2/3 clinical trial, requiring review under the "conditional approval system". On May 27th, Yan Yeyi resubmitted an application for review under the newly established "Emergency Supervision and Approval System" in accordance with the revised "Drug and Medical Device Law".
There are reports that behind the accelerated research and development of new drugs at Yano Yi Pharmaceutical in Japan, there are multiple sources of support from Ping An in China, including capital, business, and technology. In July 2021, Ping An Yannoyi Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Ping An China and Yannoyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan, opened in Shanghai. It will provide health management solutions including exercise, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, new drugs, etc., from disease-free care, prevention, diagnosis, core treatment drugs, and follow-up visits. Previously, Isao Teshirogi, who served as the CEO of Yanye Yi, had stated that he expected Xocova's annual sales to be $2 billion and submitted a listing application to the China National Medical Products Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) with Ping An Yanye Yi on July 4th.
