Who knows what to believe coming out of China anymore? Their communist government has only come out with positive news or statements condemning others for their own misdeeds. In the real world, we have a name for that. It's called "propaganda."
The Guardian is reporting that a Chinese official is claiming that a Japanese drug meant to treat influenza, and being tested by a subsidiary of Fujifilm, "appeared to be effective in coronavirus patients."
According to The Guardian's report:
Zhang Xinmin, an official at China’s science and technology ministry, said favipiravir, developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm, had produced encouraging outcomes in clinical trials in Wuhan and Shenzhen involving 340 patients[...]
Patients who were given the medicine in Shenzhen turned negative for the virus after a median of four days after becoming positive, compared with a median of 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug, public broadcaster NHK said.
In addition, X-rays confirmed improvements in lung condition in about 91% of the patients who were treated with favipiravir, compared to 62% or those without the drug.
Do we believe that? NHK is basically Japan's version of the BBC, a national broadcasting organization. They might be reputable, but at this point can we really fully take the word of a Chinese government official?
"It has a high degree of safety and is clearly effective in treatment," Zhang reportedly said Tuesday.
It's not like we don't want the report to be true. A possible vaccine for this global pandemic would be very welcome, if China wanted to share it with the world.
But, my skepticism only increased when The Guardian included what the stock price for Fujifilm Toyama Chemical surged 14.7 percent following Zhang's statement on the drug in question.
I'm not saying don't believe this news, but I'm not saying to believe this news either.
H/T: New York Post