Three sources revealed that China is in talks with the American company Pfizer to obtain a license that would allow local pharmaceutical companies to produce and distribute a copy of the company’s drug Paxlovid, an anti-Coronavirus.COVID-19 virus in China.
One of the sources familiar with the matter said China’s medical products regulator, the National Medical Products Administration, has chaired talks with Pfizer since late last month, according to Reuters.
The source added that Beijing was keen to finalize the terms of the licensing deal before the Lunar New Year, which starts on Jan. 22.
wave of injuries
Chinese hospitals are under severe pressure after the government abruptly abandoned its zero-Covid policy last month, which sent the number of infections soaring.
While the rising tide of infections across the country has led to overcrowding of hospitals, the emptying of pharmacies of medicines and international concern.
A clinical study showed that Paxlovid reduced hospitalizations for high-risk patients by nearly 90%.
Demand for this drug is growing, with many Chinese looking to take it overseas and ship it to China.
China agrees
Beijing largely opposes Western vaccines and treatments. The oral drug baxlovid was one of the few approved foreign treatments.
In February last year, China approved Paxlovid to treat high-risk patients in several provinces.
Last month, Pfizer reached an agreement to export Paxlovid to China through a local company to make the drug available on a wider scale.
