Japanese flu drug ‘clearly effective’ in treating coronavirus

Estimates by American officials say a vaccine will take a year and a half to develop.  I think that's a bunch of bureaucracy speak. 
There's scientists around the world working on this and there's economic incentive to come up with a treatment much sooner. 

 NY Post reports a Japanese flu drug has proven to be effective in treating the coronavirus in early trials, according to reports Wednesday.

Medical authorities in China said they tested the antiviral drug favipiravir on 340 patients and found it reduces recovery time and improves lung condition of patients, according to the Guardian.

Infected patients who were given the drug in Wuhan and Shenzhen tested negative for the virus after a median of four days, compared with a median of 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug, the outlet reported, citing public broadcaster NHK.

More here