The National Healthcare Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine have released a notification indicating the inclusion of Henan Genuine Biotech Co., Ltd’s COVID-19 therapy azvudine in the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (9th Edition). The drug is now approved for the treatment of adult patients with standard COVID-19. Patients are advised to take five pills on an empty stomach once a day, with the treatment course not exceeding 14 days.
Azvudine: Drug Profile and Indications
Azvudine is a Category 1 anti-HIV/AIDS drug that targets RNA reverse transcriptase. It was conditionally approved for marketing in China in July 2021 to treat adult HIV-1-infected patients with high viral load, in combination with other reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The drug obtained conditional approval to treat ordinary COVID-19 adult patients in July of this year. Fosun Pharma holds exclusive commercialization rights to the drug for COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS in certain territories.
Pricing and Treatment Course
The price of azvudine is capped at RMB 300 (USD 44.39) per bottle (1mg*35 tablets/bottle), with a full treatment course requiring approximately RMB 600 (USD 88.79). This pricing structure aims to ensure accessibility and affordability for patients in need of treatment.
Future Outlook
The inclusion of azvudine in the national COVID-19 treatment protocol underscores its potential as a treatment option for patients with standard COVID-19. By leveraging its dual indications for HIV and COVID-19, Henan Genuine Biotech aims to address significant unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes.-Fineline Info & Tech
