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Fujifilm Accelerates Production Of Its Influenza Antiviral Drug “Avigan® Tablet” For COVID-19

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 15, 2020

Fujifilm accelerates production of its influenza antiviral drug “Avigan^® Tablet” for COVID-19
TOKYO, April 15, 2020 — FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) has announced that it has expanded its manufacturing capacity at FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd. to significantly increase production of its influenza antiviral drug “Avigan^® Tablet” (generic name: favipiravir) for treating patients with COVID-19.

To further boost the supply of Avigan, Fujifilm is allocating additional capacity at its FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Co., Ltd. facility in Japan, for production of pharmaceutical intermediates used to manufacture Avigan. In addition, Fujifilm has established strategic partnerships with domestic and overseas companies for various manufacturing processes to source raw materials and pharmaceutical substances.

Fujifilm expects to progressively increase the production of Avigan up to 100,000 treatment courses* by July 2020, approximately 2.5 times more compared to the beginning of March, when the company first began its current production run. In addition, Fujifilm plans to further accelerate production up to 300,000 treatment courses* by September 2020.

The Japanese government plans to stockpile two million treatment courses* of Avigan, as part of the Japanese government’s emergency economic package announced on April 7. Fujifilm continues to respond to requests from the Japanese government, and will also engage with other countries after consultation with Japanese government.

Avigan, approved in Japan for manufacture and sale as an influenza antiviral drug, selectively inhibits viral RNA polymerase necessary for influenza virus replication. Due to this mechanism of action, Avigan may have an antiviral effect on the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, because like influenza viruses, coronaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that also depend on viral RNA polymerase.

For the purpose of determining Avigan’s safety and efficacy to treat COVID-19, Avigan, as an investigational product, is being administered in clinical studies to COVID-19 patients.

*A treatment course is the amount of Avigan Tablet described by the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases in its guidance for a regimen of favipiravir to treat COVID-19. This 14-day treatment regimen includes: two loading doses of 1800 mg each on Day 1, followed by two maintenance doses of 1000 mg each on Days 2 through 14.

[About “Avigan^® Tablet”]

Avigan Tablet was approved for manufacture and sale in Japan in 2014 as an influenza antiviral drug for novel or re-emerging influenza virus infections. Japanese government has a certain stock pile of the drug as a countermeasure against such influenza viruses. Avigan is not approved for distribution in the U.S. or any overseas countries. For more information, please see:http://fftc.fujifilm.co.jp/en/avigan/

Other Avigan/COVID-19 Coverage ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

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Posted in Press releases| Tagged Avigan, Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, Favipiravir| Leave a comment

DPR: Toshihisa Iida Interview, X-T4, X-H Line, X100V, GFX, Third Party Glass, Mark II Glass, and More

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 14, 2020

DPR interviewed Toshihisa Iida, General Manager of Fujifilm’s Optical Device and Electronic Imaging Products Division via the phone since the photo shows have been canceled and he offered some incite, which you can check out below or read in its original format here.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Fujifilm is still operating under restrictions
Manufacturing was affected in February
Fujifilm is almost back to full-scale operations while working with strict health management processes provided by the Chinese gov
Confident they can launch X-T4 at scale during the end of April
Sales have slumped during the downturn in the US and Europe, which affects warehouses and logistical operations
On the service side Fujifilm can still offer after-sales service in the US and Europe
Fujifilm as a company is healthy because of how diversified they are and the medical division is booming with Avigan
Toshihisa Iida thinks it is important to focus on peoples health and we hope demand returns after this is over
The Olympics being postponed will affect Japan’s entire economy because many people were invested in the game coming this year
When it comes to imaging there are many broadcasting businesses postponing or canceling orders that Fujifilm was getting ready for the Olympics
COVID-19 is definitely more serious than the 2011 earthquake and tsunami because this is a long term disruption
“COVID-19 is affecting everything, worldwide.”

Fujifilm X-T4 / Fujifilm X-H2?

Fujifilm X-T3S was considered, but New Shutter, IBIS, new battery were enough changes to use X-T4.
X-T4 IBIS is completely redesigned, plus used new parts and even fewer parts
X-T4 IBIS about 30% smaller and 20% lighter than X-H1
X-H1 and GFX100 expertise in R&D were needed for X-T4
Fujifilm is still working on the X-H line to innovate
The X-H line will be very different than that X-T series

Fujifilm X-T3

Would like to provide features from X-T4 on X-T3 in a firmware update, but they have other priorities at this time
X-T3 will sell alongside X-T4 because both are great cameras

Fujifilm X100V

X100V has been well received, but the February launch had a limited shipment size so they are still back-ordered
Fujifilm wants every photographer to be able to enjoy the 4k movie experience
Proud of the X100V video improvements and it helps make the camera futureproof

Fujifilm GFX100 / GFX50S / GFX50R

GFX100 has sold about 50% more than anticipated
GFX100 was received very positively and they are just catching up on it being back-ordered
Sales numbers have been very good and feedback has been good
IBIS and AF are the two most liked features, but all of the feedback has been positive
The photographers into GFX100 are been fashion, commercial, landscape
Aerial and archival photographers are now getting interested
Some customers are testing GFX100 for film making, but they don’t know how many are using it for video at this time
Premista cine glass may be able to be converted to cover GF mount with an adapter (Previously confirmed to cover GFX)
Fujifilm is happy with GFX being Rangefinder and SLR style
Fujifilm currently has no plans for a fixed lens X100 style GFX because it would need its own lens development team
Fujifilm’s current priority is expanding the GF lens lineup
FUJINON GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR is their current priority, but they will listen to customers
The GFX50S and GFX50R are loved, but Fujifilm would like to improve the AF speed
AF is top of the list for improvements to GFX50S and GFX50R

Markets

High-end sales are pretty consistent around the world
High demand for GFX in China
Entry-level models like X-A7 and X-T200 are big in Asia
Asia is major for entry-level and GFX
COVID-19 dropped GFX sales in China for the month of February
Online has been pretty solid even with COVID-19

Third-parties

Fujifilm has opened pretty much all of their specifications for third-party manufacturers like DJU and Rode
Fujifilm is being proactive about talking with third-parties
Tokina announced three lenses for X-Mount tied to them opening the mount to third parties

XF Lenses

Fujifilm is aware that some of their older lenses need a Mark II and they will be working on new versions of many of their key lenses
Some lenses need new optical designs, while others need mechanical redesigns
If the Fujinon XC 35mm f/2 does well we could see more XC lenses

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Posted in Fujifilm GFX, Fujifilm GFX 100, Fujifilm GFX 100 Megapixel, Fujifilm GFX 100S, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GFX 50S, Fujifilm X-A7, Fujifilm X-H1, Fujifilm X-H2, Fujifilm X-Pro3, Fujifilm X-T200, Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm X-T4, Fujifilm X100V, Interview| Tagged Coronavirus, COVID-19, Fuji GFX, Fuji GFX 100, Fuji GFX 100M, Fuji GFX 100MP, Fuji GFX 100MPX, Fuji GFX 100R, Fuji GFX 100S, Fuji GFX 50R, Fuji GFX 50R II, Fuji GFX 50S, Fuji GFX 50S II, Fuji GFX100, Fuji GFX100M, Fuji GFX100MP, Fuji GFX100MPX, Fuji GFX100R, Fuji GFX100S, Fuji GFX50R, Fuji GFX50R II, Fuji GFX50S, Fuji GFX50S II, Fuji Rumors, Fuji X-H2, Fuji X-H2S, Fuji X-T3, Fuji X-T3S, Fuji X-T4, Fuji X-T4 Pro, Fuji X-T40, Fuji X-T4Pro, Fuji X-T5, Fuji X-TPro, Fuji X100, Fuji X100F, Fuji X100V, Fuji X200, Fuji XH2, Fuji XH2S, Fuji XT-Pro, Fuji XT3, Fuji XT3 Pro, Fuji XT3Pro, Fuji XT3S, Fuji XT4, Fuji XT4 Pro, Fuji XT40, Fuji XT4Pro, Fuji XT5, Fuji XTPro, Fujifilm, Fujifilm GFX, Fujifilm GFX 100, Fujifilm GFX 100 Megapixel, Fujifilm GFX 100M, Fujifilm GFX 100MP, Fujifilm GFX 100Mpx, Fujifilm GFX 100R, Fujifilm GFX 100S, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Fujifilm GFX 50R II, Fujifilm GFX 50S, Fujifilm GFX 50S II, Fujifilm GFX100, Fujifilm GFX100M, Fujifilm GFX100MP, Fujifilm GFX100Mpx, Fujifilm GFX100R, Fujifilm GFX100S, Fujifilm GFX50R, Fujifilm GFX50R II, Fujifilm GFX50S, Fujifilm GFX50S II, Fujifilm Rumors, Fujifilm X-H2, Fujifilm X-H2S, Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm X-T3 Pro, Fujifilm X-T3Pro, Fujifilm X-T3S, Fujifilm X-T4, Fujifilm X-T4 Pro, Fujifilm X-T40, Fujifilm X-T4Pro, Fujifilm X-T5, Fujifilm X-TPro, Fujifilm X100, Fujifilm X100F, Fujifilm X100V, Fujifilm X100V and tagged Fuji Rumors, Fujifilm X200, Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2, Fujifilm XC35mm f/2, Fujifilm XH2, Fujifilm XH2S, Fujifilm XT-Pro, Fujifilm XT3, Fujifilm XT3 Pro, Fujifilm XT3Pro, Fujifilm XT3S, Fujifilm XT4, Fujifilm XT4 Pro, Fujifilm XT40, Fujifilm XT4Pro, Fujifilm XT5, Fujifilm XTPro, FujifilmRumors, FUJINON GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR, FUJINON GF 80mm F1.7 R WR, FUJINON GF 80mmF1.7 R WR, FUJINON GF80mm f/1.7 R WR, FUJINON GF80mm F1.7 R WR, FUJINON GF80mmF1.7 R WR, FUJINON Lens XC35mmF2, Fujinon XC 35mm f/2, Fujinon XC35mm f/2, Fujirumors, GFX, GFX 100, GFX 100M, GFX 100MP, GFX 100MPX, GFX 100R, GFX 100S, GFX 50R, GFX 50R II, GFX 50S, GFX 50S II, GFX100, GFX100M, GFX100MP, GFX100MPX, GFX100R, GFX100S, GFX50R, GFX50R II, GFX50S, GFX50S II, Hasselblad, Large Format, Leaf Shutter, Medium Format, Project Real, Sony a6400, Sony a6500, Sony a6600, Sony a7000, Street, Street Shooting, Super Full Frame, Tamron, Tamron SP 35/1.4, Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4, Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di, X Summit, X-H2, X-T Pro, X-T3, X-T3S, X-T4, X-T4 Pro, X-T40, X-T4Pro, X-T5, X-TPro, X100F, X100V, X200, XH2, XT-Pro, XT3, XT3 Pro, XT3Pro, XT3S, XT4, XT4 Pro, XT40, XT5| Leave a comment

Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine Coming For X-Mount

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 14, 2020

Venus Optics should release the Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine lens soon for X-Mount. Venus Optics is rehousing some of their more popular lenses in cine housings so the Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine is just a Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D rehoused. The Laowa 9mm T2.9 is expected to be 3980 yuan, which converts to $563.96 USD. So a little more than the original, or they might make it the same price since it is so close.

via xitek

Posted in 3rd Party Lens| Tagged Cine, Laowa 9mm f/2.8 ZERO-D, Laowa 9mm T2.9, Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D, Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine, Laowa Cine, Venus Optics, Venus Optics 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine, Venus Optics Laowa, Venus Optics Laowa 9mm f/2.8 ZERO-D, Venus Optics Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine| Leave a comment

ON1 HDR Released With Introductory Pricing

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 13, 2020

ON1 released a new stand-alone HDR application that can work as a Lightroom Classic plugin. You can get a copy here or read about the new program below.

New Standalone App: ON1 HDR 2020
We are excited to announce a new photography application for creating natural and flawless HDR photos in seconds. The new ON1 HDR 2020, for Mac and PC, works as a standalone app or as a plug-in for Lightroom CC Classic. Perfect for merging multiple bracketed photos into a single stunning high-dynamic-range (HDR) image. It can also be used to edit a single photo to create a realistic HDR look by leveraging ON1’s powerful HDR and Dynamic Contrast Filters. ON1’s ultra-fast HDR processing technology makes it the fastest way to create HDR photos.

Note: ON1 HDR 2020 is also available as a module in the current release of ON1 Photo RAW 2020. For anyone who owns Photo RAW 2020, they already have ON1 HDR 2020. Read More »

Posted in Deals, Software| Tagged ON1, ON1 HDR| Leave a comment

Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 Coming April 15th for $279

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 13, 2020

Viltrox officially announced the price and release date of the affordable XF33mm f/1.4 in the USA and pre-sales will start April 15th for $279.00. They also have a lot of samples images and video on weibo some of which you can see below. If the 33mm f/1.4 is as good as the 85mm f/1.8 Viltrox might be on a roll.

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VILTROX 85mm f/1.8: B&H Photo / Amazon
VILTROX 33mm f/1.4 (Coming Soon): B&H Photo / Amazon

Posted in 3rd Party Lens| Tagged Fuji Rumors, Fujifilm, Fujifilm Rumors, FujifilmRumors, Fujirumors, Viltrox, VILTROX 23mm f/1.4, VILTROX 23mm f/1.4 AF, Viltrox 23mm F1.4, VILTROX 23mm F1.4 AF, Viltrox 23mmF1.4, VILTROX 33mm f/1.4, VILTROX 33mm f/1.4 AF, Viltrox 33mm F1.4, VILTROX 33mm F1.4 AF, VILTROX 56mm f/1.4, VILTROX 56mm f/1.4 AF, Viltrox 56mm F1.4, VILTROX 56mm F1.4 AF, Viltrox 56mmF1.4, Viltrox 833mmF1.4, VILTROX 85mm f/1.8, VILTROX 85mm f/1.8 AF, VILTROX 85mm F1.8, VILTROX 85mm F1.8 AF, Viltrox 85mmF1.8| Leave a comment

Fujicast Fujifilm X100V, X-T3, X-T4, X-H2, Monochrome, Avigan, COVID-19, and More – With Marketing Manager Andreas Georghiades Again

By Louis Ferreira | Published: April 12, 2020

Manager Andreas Georghiades is back again for a Q&A after his previous two appearances (1, 2). Below you can find a summary of the Q&A.

Q&A

Fujifilm doing their best to lower the price of GFX as you can see with GFX50R
X-T4 Black and silver 28th of April with a kit lens end of May in US/UK, but at the mercy of couriers
The factory has been open since March
They had shortages in Feb
X100V heat issues are with like 600 shots or 4k video
X100V makes the same heat as X100F, but the thermal dissipation has changed and might add a statement in firmware
XH Line is not dead
Fujifilm still sees demand for a more rugged/durable camera
Image quality doesn’t change if the sensor and processor is the same
If you want small and lightweight you go X-T30/X-T100
If you want all the bells and whistles X-T4
If you want stylish X-Pro3
Maybe something like XLR inputs will come to the X-H line
Fujifilm’s old lenses could still focus faster
If APS-C goes above 32MP then they might have to start refreshing some of their old lenses
X-T3 will definitely get more updates, but not sure what the updates will be or when they will come
GFX100 is faster than GFX50 because it has PDAF
Currently there isn’t a 50/60/70MP medium format sensor with PDAF
100MP is the only medium format option for PDAF
Fujifilm is still repairing cameras and they are having their employees distance
Fujifilm is getting less demand for service during the outbreak
Fujifilm professional services membership gets you expedited service and access to a space in the London house of photography
Fujifilm connect was started to reach out to photographers and it just happened to occur during COVID-19
No clue what’s going on in Fujifilm’s film division because it is separate from their digital
Avigan was sanctioned by the Japanese to help flu and now they are in phase III of the trials for COVID-19 treatment, but from an entirely different division
The Fujifilm medical team is busier than ever because they do portable X-rays that are necessary for COVID-19
No chance of a monochrome X camera for the 10th anniversary
The Japanese do not like to say no
Fujifilm also needs to balance the heads up information they give people via the press because the mark 1 lenses might just stop selling
The house of photography will open as soon as they can
Fujifilm Japan has prioritized their employees and their families during COVID-19

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via Fujicast

Posted in Fujifilm X-H2, Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm X-T4, Interview| Tagged Avigan, Classic Negative, Computational Photography, Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, ETERNA, Eterna Bleach Bypass, Fuji Rumors, Fuji X-H2, Fuji X-H2S, Fuji X-T3, Fuji X-T3S, Fuji X-T4, Fuji X-T4 Pro, Fuji X-T40, Fuji X-T4Pro, Fuji X-T5, Fuji X-TPro, Fuji X100V, Fuji XH2, Fuji XH2S, Fuji XT-Pro, Fuji XT3, Fuji XT3 Pro, Fuji XT3Pro, Fuji XT3S, Fuji XT4, Fuji XT4 Pro, Fuji XT40, Fuji XT4Pro, Fuji XT5, Fuji XTPro, Fujicast, Fujifilm, Fujifilm Rumors, Fujifilm X-H2, Fujifilm X-H2S, Fujifilm X-T3, Fujifilm X-T3 Pro, Fujifilm X-T3Pro, Fujifilm X-T3S, Fujifilm X-T4, Fujifilm X-T4 Pro, Fujifilm X-T40, Fujifilm X-T4Pro, Fujifilm X-T5, Fujifilm X-TPro, Fujifilm X100, Fujifilm X100V, Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1 R WR, Fujifilm XF50 mm f/1, Fujifilm XF50mm f/1, Fujifilm XF50mm f/1 R WR, Fujifilm XH2, Fujifilm XH2S, Fujifilm XT-Pro, Fujifilm XT3, Fujifilm XT3 Pro, Fujifilm XT3Pro, Fujifilm XT3S, Fujifilm XT4, Fujifilm XT4 Pro, Fujifilm XT40, Fujifilm XT4Pro, Fujifilm XT5, Fujifilm XTPro, FujifilmRumors, Fujinon XF 50mm f/1, Fujinon XF 50mm f/1 R WR, Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 R LM WR, Fujinon XF 50mm F1.0 R LM WR, Fujinon XF50mm f/1, Fujinon XF50mm f/1 R WR, Fujinon XF50mm f/1.0 R LM WR, Fujinon XF50mm F1.0 R LM WR, Fujirumors, Sony a6400, Sony a6500, Sony a6600, Sony a7000, X Summit, X-H2, X-T Pro, X-T3, X-T3S, X-T4, X-T4 Pro, X-T40, X-T4Pro, X-T5, X-TPro, X100V, XH2, XT-Pro, XT3, XT3 Pro, XT3Pro, XT3S, XT4, XT4 Pro, XT40, XT5| Leave a comment

Fujifilm Photography News and Rumors

Fujifilm Accelerates Production Of Its Influenza Antiviral Drug “Avigan® Tablet” For COVID-19

DPR: Toshihisa Iida Interview, X-T4, X-H Line, X100V, GFX, Third Party Glass, Mark II Glass, and More

Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine Coming For X-Mount

ON1 HDR Released With Introductory Pricing

Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 Coming April 15th for $279

Fujicast Fujifilm X100V, X-T3, X-T4, X-H2, Monochrome, Avigan, COVID-19, and More – With Marketing Manager Andreas Georghiades Again

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Fujifilm Photography News and Rumors

Fujifilm Accelerates Production Of Its Influenza Antiviral Drug “Avigan® Tablet” For COVID-19

DPR: Toshihisa Iida Interview, X-T4, X-H Line, X100V, GFX, Third Party Glass, Mark II Glass, and More

Laowa 9mm T2.9 Zero-D Cine Coming For X-Mount

ON1 HDR Released With Introductory Pricing

Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 Coming April 15th for $279

Fujicast Fujifilm X100V, X-T3, X-T4, X-H2, Monochrome, Avigan, COVID-19, and More – With Marketing Manager Andreas Georghiades Again

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