China: Authorities approve treatment for Covid-19 for first time

Authorities in China have approved a treatment for covid-19 for the first time, two years after the outbreak.

Unlike the prophylactic vaccine, the treatment is intended for those who have already been infected with covid-19 and aims to protect patients from serious complications.

China, where the new coronavirus first appeared in the city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, has almost eliminated the epidemic in its territory by taking drastic measures: closing borders, strict control of movements, lockdown and careful tracking of cases.

The country has not approved any foreign vaccine against covid-19, while with those produced domestically it has vaccinated 70% of its population.

Nevertheless, China has been facing some outbreaks of the epidemic in recent months, but has recorded much lower cases of covid-19 than most countries in the world.

China’s National Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it is giving “emergency use approval” to a home treatment for covid-19 based on monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies attach to the coronavirus protein spike, reducing its ability to enter human cells.

The injectable treatment was developed by Beijing’s Tsinghua University, Shenzhen Hospital No. 3 and Brii Biosciences.

According to clinical trials, treatment reduces the risk of hospitalization and death of vulnerable patients with covid-19 by 80%, according to Tsinghua University.

The Chinese press reported that the treatment was given to patients infected with covid-19 in the recent epidemic outbreaks in the country.

China today announced 83 new cases of covid-19 nationwide. The country has many Chinese-made vaccines, the effectiveness of which is considered lower than those produced abroad.

Two Chinese vaccines, Sinovac and Sinopharm, have been approved by the World Health Organization.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ