Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Shionogi & Co. filed for Japanese regulatory approval to sell its new influenza drug peramivir as the number of swine flu infections surges.

The drugmaker is seeking to sell peramivir in an intravenous form for use in adults with flu and high-risk patients, Osaka-based Shionogi said today. The company, which filed its application last month, said it has started trials to seek approval for use in children.

Shares of Shionogi, which bought the rights to develop and sell peramivir in Japan from Birmingham, Alabama-based BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc., rose as much as 4.2 percent. Regulators in the U.S., where the drug is undergoing final-stage testing, last month authorized peramivir for treating hospitalized patients who are confirmed or suspected to have swine flu, or H1N1.

As of Oct. 25, the number of swine flu cases climbed to more than 440,000 worldwide since the first infection was reported in April, with over 5,700 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

Shionogi climbed 3.4 percent to close at 2,010 yen in Tokyo trading, snapping three sessions of losses. Japan’s benchmark Topix index rose 0.1 percent.

Net income fell 2.1 percent to 11.6 billion yen ($128 million) in the first half ended Sept. 30, Shionogi said in a separate statement today. Sales climbed 26 percent to 132.6 billion yen.

The company maintained its forecasts for profit to more than double to 35 billion yen and revenue to increase 23 percent to 280 billion yen in the year ending March 31.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kanoko Matsuyama in Tokyo at at kmatsuyama2@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 4, 2009 02:45 EST