Daiichi Sankyo gets approval for influenza drugh Ianivir

Japanese health authorities have approved an application from Daiichi Sankyo, to make and market a next-gen flu treatment. The application for the approval for the drug called Ianvir, developed by drug developer Biota Holdings, was filed in February.

Biota, a leading anti-infective drug development company, is based out of Melbourne, Australia and Oxford, UK. It develops new drugs and licenses them to other companies to manufacture and commercialise against ropyalty payments.

The news of the approval sent Melbourne-based Biota Holdings's shares rocketing more than 20 per cent.

As with Biota's existing Relenza treatment licensed to GlaxoSmitKline, the company would get a royalty on sales of the influenza drug.

Ianivir is inhaled rather than taken orally and does not need to be taken daily. The drug is not a vaccine though.

Analysts say the 'one and done' mode of treatment is likely to be a hit with patients and additionally there are the lower storage and transport costs associated with the treatment.