Asia passed the grim milestone of 1 million coronavirus-linked deaths on March 11, a Reuters tally showed, as a spike in Omicron variant infections spreads across the region after starting in nations such as Japan and South Korea.

Drugmaker Shionogi applied for approval to make and sell the company’s oral COVID-19 treatment in Japan, the firm said on February 25.

New COVID-19 cases in Tokyo exceeded 20,000 for the first time on Feb. 2, dimming hopes that a wave of infections fueled by the Omicron variant is peaking in Japan.

A multinational team of researchers genetically engineered T-lymphocytes to produce dual receptor rejuvenated T-cells, which exhibit antitumor properties with persistent, unlimited availability in vivo.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking into allegations a regional director in Asia bullied staff, used racist language and leaked sensitive vaccine data to Japan, accusations the official denies.

The Omicron variant can survive longer than earlier versions of the coronavirus on plastic surfaces and human skin, Japanese researchers found in laboratory tests. Additionally, new research shows users of rapid antigen tests to detect COVID-19 should swab their nostrils as directed by the manufacturer and not swab the throat or cheek instead.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Complete Response Letter to Merck & Co. for the company’s New Drug Application for gefapixant for refractory chronic cough or unexplained chronic cough.

The United States – the World Health Organization’s top donor – is resisting proposals to make the agency more independent, four officials involved in the talks said, raising doubts about the Biden administration’s long-term support for the U.N. agency.

Japan recorded a surge in new coronavirus cases on January 12, with infections reaching four-month highs in the major metropolitan areas of Tokyo and Osaka as the Omicron variant spreads.

Japan recorded no daily deaths from Covid-19 for the first time in more than a year on November 7, local media said.