China’s Homegrown Antiviral Covid Pill Included in National Subsidy Program

China’s homegrown Covid antiviral pill was included in the nation’s medical subsidy program, health authorities said, after pricing talks broke down with Pfizer Inc. to cover its more expensive Paxlovid.

Azvudine developed by Henan-based Genuine Biotech will be priced at 11.58 yuan ($1.71) per pill, and a box of 35 pills will be 175 yuan, compared with 1,890 yuan ($279) to 2,300 yuan for a five-day course of 30 Paxlovid pills, according to the National Health Commission.