Potential coronavirus drug approved for marketing

Favipiravir, an antiviral that has shown potential in treating the novel coronavirus, was approved for marketing, the Taizhou government of Zhejiang province announced Sunday.

The drug is approved for marketing in the treatment of influenza, and is one of three drugs demonstrating efficacy against the novel coronavirus in human trials.

The approval document by the National Medical Products Administration said the drug manufacturer, Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Company, has met requirements to produce the generic form of Favipiravir but needs to continue unfinished research in pharmacy and clinical pharmacology.

The company also received a clinical trial approval by the administration, saying the product is approved for clinical trials on indication for novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Zhang Xinmin, head of the China National Center for Biotechnology Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said at a news conference on Saturday that in human trials conducted in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the drug has shown promising results against the novel coronavirus and mild adverse reactions in patients.