NHK has learned that British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca plans to resume clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine in Japan soon, following their resumption in Britain.
Sources close to the firm say the trials will restart this week at the earliest at multiple locations in Japan, with about 250 people aged 18 or older taking part.
Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says clinical trials of a vaccine for the coronavirus are expected to begin in the country as early as July.
Abe made the disclosure at a Lower House Budget Committee session on Monday.
A group of researchers at the University of Tokyo has started clinical trials of a drug that could possibly treat people infected with the coronavirus.
Nafamostat mesylate is normally used for acute pancreatitis and other diseases that create blood clots. It is marketed under the brand name Futhan.
Japan's health ministry has decided to begin clinical trials on patients infected by the new coronavirus with a drug used to treat HIV.
Thailand and other countries have reported that the symptoms of coronavirus patients improved after they were administered antiviral drugs that are used to prevent the onset of AIDS.