Pharmaceutical company Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co Ltd disclosed on Friday that the Chinese and Japanese governments have recommended the use of Favipiravir for treating COVID-19.

The company also stated that over 100 countries currently included the tablet for COVID-19 treatment.

Based on the data from Favipiravir's clinical tests published by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Favipiravir has shown good clinical efficacy against the disease and the tablet form makes it easily accessible. The company added Favipiravir is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that inhibits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of RNA viruses. It has efficacy against Ebola, influenza and COVID-19.

Originally developed by Toyama Chemical Co Ltd, Favipiravir was approved as strategic stockpile as a countermeasure for virus in Japan. In 2016, the patent of Favipiravir was exclusively franchised to Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (HISUN). The finished approved drug can directly prevent the virus from replicating itself in cells, with a mechanism of action similar to Remdesivir.