Japanese Company Says New Ebola Drug May Be Ready By End of 2014

A new Ebola drug produced by a Japanese pharmaceutical company may be ready for distribution as early as the end of 2014.

The Japanese pharmaceutical arm of Fujifilm Holdings Corp said this week that its new influenza medication, Avigan, may be used to treat Ebola and could be distributed to countries in West Africa by the end of this year.

The drug has already been used to treat Ebola patients in Europe, and the company now says it is preparing to distribute it on a larger scale.

"So far, four Ebola patients have recovered after being treated with the drug," Fujifilm Chairman and Chief executive Shigetaka Komori said at a pres conference in Japan this week.

Media outlets report that Fujifilm's latest pharmaceutical development is an attempt to revive its company in other areas, as its camera division is beginning to diminish.

The company reportedly expects international governments to approve the use of the drug after tests are completed by the end of December.

West Africa continues to suffer from an Ebola crisis that has wiped out large swaths of its population. Recently, a total of 2,100 U.S. troops arrived in West African countries to help educate local health officials on disease prevention and containment.

American Dr. Craig Spencer was recently declared Ebola-free after being treated at a New York City-area hospital for the disease. Spencer had treated Ebola patients in West Africa before developing a fever upon his return to New York City in September.

"Dr. Spencer poses no public health risk and will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow," the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation said in a statement Monday.