Abidol Included in the COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol (6th Edition); Shijiazhuang No.4 Pharmaceutical Accelerates Production to Ensure Supply


Time:2020-02-20

On the afternoon of February 19, the General Office of the National Health Commission and the Office of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued the “Notice on Issuing the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial Version 6).”
 
 
On the afternoon of February 19, the General Office of the National Health Commission and the Office of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued the “Notice on Issuing the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial Version 6).” This revised protocol adds two drugs—chloroquine phosphate and arbidol—to the antiviral treatment regimen. As soon as the news broke, calls flooded in from various regions requesting additional supplies of arbidol hydrochloride capsules manufactured by Shijiazhuang No.4 Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Currently, Shiji Pharmaceutical is ramping up production at full capacity to ensure supply.
 
 
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the oral dosage form workshop at Shijiazhuang No.4 Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has been operating at full capacity on its abidol hydrochloride capsule production line. “Currently, various regions are continuously increasing their orders for abidol hydrochloride capsules. At present, we’re maintaining uninterrupted production, with all staff working without taking vacations, and we’re now producing nearly 1 million capsules per day—nearly double our usual output—as we strive to ensure sufficient supply for clinical use and the market,” said Han Shuqin, Deputy General Manager in charge of production at Shijiazhuang No.4 Pharmaceutical, on February 19.
It is reported that from January 25 to February 18, Shiyao Group has cumulatively sent 1.5 million capsules of the antiviral drug abidol hydrochloride to Hubei Province, including 1.1 million capsules destined for Wuhan.
      
 
Shi Si Yao is one of the earliest pharmaceutical companies in China to develop the drug Arbidol. According to Dr. Sun Lijie, Director of the Shi Si Yao Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Arbidol is primarily used to treat upper respiratory tract infections caused by influenza viruses of types A and B. In 2019, it was first included in the National Medical Insurance Catalog and was subsequently re-included in the list of antiviral drugs recommended for clinical use, as published by the National Health Commission.
Sun Lijie stated that the inclusion of Abidol in the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial Version 6) has further strengthened our confidence in accelerating the re-examination of this drug, so that it can better realize its clinical value.
 

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