China may approve the first COVID-19 drug in the next few weeks

Recently, China's Ministry of Science and Technology announced that a drug to treat COVID-19 co-developed by US and Chinese researchers could be licensed for use by the end of this year. 

(Artwork: eamesBot/Shutterstock)

Brii Biosciences (a multinational pharmaceutical company based in the US and China) has teamed up with scientists at Tsinghua University and 3 People's Hospital in Shenzhen to develop a drug to treat COVID-19. -19, which combines two neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, BRII-196 and BRII-198, created by cloning and combining antibodies found in the body of patients who have recovered from infection. sick. The drug is administered by intravenous infusion.

Last month, Brii Biosciences applied for a license to use it with the US and Chinese drug regulators after a phase III trial showed promising results. Summer Li, the company's director of public relations, said that Brii Biosciences is applying for an emergency use license in the US and conditional use in China.

"We hope the Chinese regulator will approve it by the end of the year," Li said.

Preliminary data from the international trial indicates that the drug reduces the risk of hospitalization and death in COVID-19 patients by 78%, as reported by Brii Biosciences earlier this year. If approved, the company will bring the product to the US and China markets first, and prioritize the countries where Brii Biosciences has organized clinical trials: Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina and the Philippines.

Preliminary results show that the drug is effective against coronavirus variants such as Delta. Li said that the drug has been used to treat more than 800 patients in China.

China has spent 315 million yuan (US$49.3 million) on 53 research and development projects for drugs and therapies for COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic nearly two years ago.

To date, the leading treatments in China are based on the use of antibodies by intravenous infusion. Meanwhile, the US has also approved a number of COVID-19 drugs based on monoclonal antibodies.

In recent days, two oral antiviral drugs developed by Merck and Pfizer have also attracted widespread attention for their potential to change the epidemic situation.

Pfizer says its Paxlovid oral tablet can reduce hospitalizations and deaths by 89%, while Merck says its molnupiravir can reduce it by 50%.

China still has no truly outstanding oral anti-COVID-19 drug.