Japan's Chugai files to expand use of COVID-19 antibody drug

FILE PHOTO: A signboard of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co is seen at the company factory in Tokyo August 18, 2014.  REUTERS/Toru Hanai
FILE PHOTO: A signboard of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co is seen at the company factory in Tokyo August 18, 2014. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical Co said on Monday it has applied to regulators to expand the use of an antibody treatment for COVID-19 to also allow for preventative care.

Japanese regulators approved an antibody cocktail known as Ronapreve as a treatment for COVID-19 in July. The latest filing seeks to use the drug as both a prophylaxis for COVID-19 and as treatment of asymptomatic cases, Chugai said in a release.

(Reporting by Rocky Swift, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

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