China Runs Short of Anti-Immune Deficiency Drug as Covid Panic Buying Clears Shelves

A surge in severe Covid cases across China has led to panic buying of an antibody-based medication used to ward off infection, Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG), causing supplies to tighten and prices to skyrocket, patients and medical sources told Caixin.

There was already a nationwide shortage of IVIG at the end of last year, said Zheng Yin, a patient with an inherited immune disorder, and the problem has continued to worsen this month, with the price per dose now as high as 5,000 yuan ($746), compared with an average of 800 yuan in late December.