Japan based Takeda Pharmaceutical developing coronavirus drug

The pharmaceutical company of Japan, Takeda Pharmaceutical said that it was developing a drug for coronavirus patients. The company was working on a plasma-derived therapy which had previously been shown to be effective in treatment of severe acute viral respiratory infections.

The company’s research demand antibodies from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus infections or who have been vaccinated, once a vaccine has been developed.

 “By transferring the antibodies to a new patient, it may help that person’s immune system respond to the infection and increase their chance of recovery,” Takeda said in a statement.

It is also studying whether its currently marketed or pipeline products might be effective treatments for infected patients, the company said, adding those efforts were at an early stage.

Takeda said it would share its plans with members of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday and was in talks with various health and regulatory agencies and healthcare partners in the United States, Asia and Europe to move forward its research into the drug.