Benzinga | Jun 15, 2021 06:07AM EDT

Daiichi Sankyo To Stop Testing Inhaled Nafamostat In COVID-19 Patients In Japan

* Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd (OTC:DSNKY) said it was halting the development of an existing drug for the treatment of COVID-19 without citing a reason.

* However, the Nikkei newspaper reported that there were safety concerns.

* In March, the company started a Phase 1 trial in Japan of an inhaled form of nafamostat mesylate with COVID-19 patients.

* Nafamostat is used in the treatment of pancreatitis and has antiviral properties.

* Price Action: DSNKY closed at $23.76 on Monday.