Japan plans to start trials of HIV medications to treat coronavirus patients as an increase in the number of cases poses a growing threat to the economy and public health. Reuters Health reports that according to the government’s top spokesperson, Yoshihide Suga, the government is making “preparations so that clinical trials using HIV medication on the novel coronavirus can start as soon as possible.” But, he added, he could not say how long it might take to approve a drug’s use.
A further 88 people tested positive for the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the port of Yokohama, bringing the total number of infected passengers to 542, the Health Ministry said.
Elsewhere, three more cases were diagnosed in Wakayama Prefecture, including the son of a doctor infected with the virus, local media said.
As the contracting economy deepens recession fears, the spread of the virus has prompted Tokyo to curb the size of public gatherings, while some companies are telling employees to work from home.
The report says HIV drugs have been touted as a potential cure for the coronavirus, which has killed almost 1,900 people in mainland China. No therapy has yet proven fully effective against the infection. In Thailand, doctors said they appeared to have had some success in treating severe cases of the virus with a combination of medications for flu and HIV.
[link url="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-health-japan-canada/japan-targets-hiv-drug-trials-to-fight-coronavirus-cruise-ship-evacuations-continue-idUKKBN20C01O"]Full Reuters Health report[/link]