AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT AUGUST 24

UNCLAS TOKYO 004853 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AIAG AMBASSADOR LANGE DEPT FOR OES/IHA SINGER AND FENDRICK DEPT FOR EAP/J USDA PASS TO APHIS HHS PASS TO CDC HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER, BHAT AND ELVANDER DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN DENNIS CARROLL SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI JA SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT AUGUST 24 REF: A. 05 STATE 153802 ¶B. TOKYO 4525 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. There were no significant avian influenza (AI) developments in Japan during the period August 10 to August ¶24. No human or animal outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza were reported in Japan during the above period. -- Company to Begin Clinical Test of AI Antiviral -- ¶2. The Toyama Chemical Corporation beginning in FY2006 will conduct clinical trials on T-705, an antiviral agent that promises to be effective against types A, B and C of the influenza virus and possibly against avian influenza. In March 2006, a research team at Utah State University reported that T-705 showed effectiveness against the H5N1 strain of the virus in animal studies. Toyama plans to conduct clinical trials simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. and hopes to have a product ready for the market in JFY 2009. The company initially plans to produce enough T- 705 for 30 million doses and generate sales of Yen 36 billion (313 million USD). Toyama will license development and marketing rights to an overseas producer to help offset the costs and difficulties of mass production on its own. DONOVAN