Analysis: How Azvudine Became China’s First Approved Homegrown Covid Pill

(Blue View) — China’s conditional approval Monday of Genuine Biotech’s Azvudine to treat Covid-19 settled months of speculation over what company would win the race to add a homegrown pill to the arsenal for combating the pandemic.

Two months ago, rival Chinese drugmaker Junshi Biosciences published results of a small clinical trial suggesting that its Covid antiviral VV116 might shorten infections. Along with Azvudine, VV116 had expedited clinical trials and registration, underscoring authorities’ support for advancing the drugs’ development.