China foresees therapeutic successes in the fight against COVID-19

According to a document provided to China Daily, China will create broad-spectrum treatments to combat mutated strains of the COVID-19 virus and develop drugs with new mechanisms to combat the pathogen, indicating that as of January 19, a total of 10 anti-COVID-19 drugs manufactured in the country had either obtained formal or conditional marketing approval or been cleared to treat symptoms of the pathogen.

The document was released by the specialized team for COVID-19 drug research and development under the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, the Chinese government.

Pharmacists check prescription information at a fever clinic in Minhang district, east China’s Shanghai, Jan. 8. Small molecule drugs to treat COVID-19 have been put into use in community health centers in Shanghai to better play their role in “early detection, early intervention and early diversion”. (Wang Xiang/Xinhua)

The document also said that China also had 23 drugs on the list of key anti-COVID-19 drugs that were in active development or undergoing real-world evidence studies after receiving market approval, adding that “the team will continue to facilitate the development of safe and effective treatments that can span the entire disease course and are suitable for all populations.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s new coronavirus drug development process has followed three main technical paths: preventing the virus from entering cells, inhibiting viral replication in the body, and regulating the system. body’s immune system.

In December 2021, China granted official market approval to its first local neutralizing monoclonal antibody cocktails, BRII-196 and BRII-198. According to the results of its phase three clinical trials, it is a combination therapy administered by intravenous infusion that can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by almost 80%.

Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have developed oral small molecule treatments for COVID-19. A breakthrough came in July when China granted conditional authorization for the oral antiviral Azvudine to treat COVID-19. The drug was originally used to treat HIV.

At the same time, China will accelerate the development of oral small molecule drugs this year. In mid-January, the National Administration of Medical Products received applications for marketing authorization for the new antivirals SIM0417 and VV116. Another antiviral called RAY1216 recently completed recruitment for its late-stage clinical trials.

Finally, in addition to finding treatments for COVID-19, Chinese scientists are looking for new drugs to prevent infections or regulate the body’s immune system, with a handful of candidates currently in phase two or three clinical trials. . Some notable examples include the targeted inhibitor drug TDI01 and the peptide nasal spray HY3000.