A health ministry panel approved an oral COVID-19 drug on Friday. The pill, developed by U.S. pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co., will be the first of its kind to be used in Japan.
Molnupiravir, which prevents the novel coronavirus from multiplying in the body, was given the green light under a fast-track process after MSD K.K., the Japanese arm of Merck, applied in early December to produce and sell the drug in Japan.
The Japanese subsidiary has said that molnupiravir is also likely effective against the omicron variant of the virus.