Japan's health ministry has approved antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19, according to an NHK report.

The drug will be given to patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms, a Japanese health ministry official said at a press briefing. 

Remdesivir is the country's first authorized form of COVID-19 therapy. As of Thursday evening, Japan has reported more than 15,000 COVID-19 cases with 556 deaths in the country. 

However, a steady rise in cases has put pressure on medical facilities in some parts of the country, and a drug that helps patients recover more quickly could help in freeing up hospital beds.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also granted emergency use of the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir to treat COVID-19.

Preliminary results of remdesivir's clinical trials show the drug can shorten recovery time by 31 percent for hospitalized patients, compared to a placebo treatment, according to the data released by U.S. National Institute of Health.

It suggests the drug may also help avert deaths, but that effect is not yet large enough for scientists to know for sure. 

(Cover via Xinhua)