Japan’s Takeda Starts Work on Coronavirus Drug

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Japan, a woman wearing a protective mask is seen at the scramble crossing in Shibuya shopping district in Tokyo on March 3, 2020. Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Japanese drugmaker Takeda said it’s started work on a drug that could treat people infected with the new coronavirus.

The experimental therapy will be derived from the blood of people who became infected with the new virus but have recovered from the disease.