Shi Si Pharmaceutical: Accelerating the Development of New Products to Support the Fight Against the Epidemic


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Time:2020-02-14

The antiviral effects of Arbidol in clinical settings have gradually moved from disagreement to consensus, particularly the case of 14 infected medical staff at Wuhan Union Hospital who have recovered and been discharged. This has further strengthened our confidence in conducting further research on this drug.
 
“The antiviral effects of Arbidol in clinical settings have gradually gained recognition, with increasing consensus on its efficacy—particularly the remarkable case of 14 infected medical staff members at Wuhan Union Hospital who have fully recovered and been discharged. This has further strengthened our confidence in continuing to advance research on this drug.” Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dean Sun Lijie and his team at the Pharmaceutical Research Institute of Shijiazhuang Fourth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. have stepped up their efforts in developing new drugs and conducting consistency evaluations of antiviral medications, providing crucial support and boosting morale for the frontline fight against the epidemic.
Dr. Sun Lijie, director of the Shisi Pharmaceutical Research Institute and a provincial-level expert as well as a holder of the Shijiazhuang City Talent Green Card Type A, introduced that since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Research Institute has swiftly reorganized and adjusted its ongoing research projects, prioritizing those related to epidemic prevention and control. The institute has also stepped up efforts to conduct further studies and bioequivalence evaluations on antiviral and antibiotic drugs such as abidol hydrochloride and moxifloxacin hydrochloride.
Sun Lijie introduced that Abidor hydrochloride capsules are antiviral drugs originally developed by the former Soviet Union. Shiyao Group was among the first domestic pharmaceutical companies to develop and industrialize this drug. Abidor is primarily used to treat upper respiratory tract infections caused by influenza viruses of types A and B. It works by inhibiting the fusion of the virus and host cell membranes, thereby blocking the first step of viral infection.
Currently, the abidol hydrochloride capsules produced by Shiyao Group have been included for the first time in the National Medical Insurance Catalog and the list of antiviral influenza drugs recommended for clinical use issued by the National Health Commission in 2019. They have also been approved to enter the epidemic prevention and control product reserve catalogs or green channels for epidemic prevention medications in 24 provinces.
During the Spring Festival, the Hebei Provincial Drug Administration swiftly approved the associated filing of abidol hydrochloride raw material and abidol hydrochloride capsules, both produced by Shisi Pharmaceutical Group, further ensuring the supply of clinical antiviral medications.
Building on this foundation, Sun Lijie has also led his team to continuously develop a series of new antiviral drugs, and a project has already been approved to initiate research on new drugs targeting the novel coronavirus.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Sun Lijie and all core R&D personnel have reported to work, steadfastly holding their posts while taking proper personal protective measures. They work more than ten hours each day, racing against the virus every minute and every second.
“As a drug development team, it is our professional duty to fight the virus. At the same time, as researchers, we have a certain understanding of the novel coronavirus. I hope everyone can avoid excessive panic and trust that, with the whole nation standing together in this battle, we will surely win the fight against the epidemic,” said Sun Lijie.

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