Drug That Stops Flu in a Single Day Approved in Japan

A new drug that can kill the flu in one day has been fast-tracked for approval in Japan. The drug, Xofluza, may not be ready until May because the sticker price has not yet been set, reported the Wall Street Journal. This is the first time a therapeutic has won approval through the faster system.

A trial that utilized data from Japanese and American flu patients showed that it took the drug an average of 25 hours to eliminate the virus. It also only took one dose, compared to several needed with Tamiflu, another common flu therapeutic. Xofluza acts to stop the virus from infecting new cells and taking them over, drastically reducing the ability of the virus to multiply.

Reports have suggested the drug may reach US patients in 2019.