The plan comes at a time when the new strain of H1N1 influenza is threatening to grow into a possible global pandemic.
Another Japanese drugmaker, Daiichi Sankyo Co., also aims to sell a new drug from around next year. Flu patients can have choices besides Tamiflu and Relenza now available from European firms, they said.
Shionogi's new prescription drug, called Peramivir, will be injected, while Tamiful is an oral drug and Relenza is to be inhaled.
When a person is not seriously ill, one injection would be sufficient and the drug would be effective even if it is given to a patient after the onset of flu, according to the sources.
In trials, the Shionogi drug demonstrated therapeutic effects against the deadly H5N1 avian flu as well, they said.
In 2007, Shionogi was granted by U.S. firm BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. the exclusive rights to develop and sell Peramivir in Japan.
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