Japan's Health Ministry has approved a new drug that reportedly can kill influenza types A and B in as little as 1 day among some patients. According to WebMD, reports say that the drug, known as Baloxavir marboxil, can kill flu viruses in 24 hours, although some symptoms could last longer. It prevents flu spread differently than existing drugs.
Unlike existing flu drugs, such as a Tamiflu, which require patients to take it twice-a-day for 5 days, the Japanese medication is taken in a single dose regardless of age the company said.
The report says Baloxavir marboxil underwent rigorous testing where a total of 1,436 otherwise healthy patients diagnosed with flu participated. Results of the trial, reported at Infectious Disease Week 2017, showed significant improvement in recovery from flu compared with a placebo. The new drug also showed significantly quicker reduction in fever.
Reports say that Shionogi, the drug’s manufacturer, said it will launch Xofluza immediately in Japan after the National Health Insurance price listing, but the drug would not be up for approval in the US before 2019.
[link url="https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20180226/drug-that-kills-flu-in-one-day-approved-in-japan"]WebMD report[/link]