Biotech & Genomic Medicine▲
COVID-19 drugs hard to find at brick-and-mortar pharmacies as manufacturers activate emergency production
The positive rate for COVID-19 tests has recently climbed to 20.3%, driving up market demand for antiviral drugs. Yet physical pharmacies are widely out of stock, with some staff even recommending anti-flu medications such as oseltamivir and baloxavir marboxil. Six domestically developed oral COVID-19 treatments have now been approved in China, including Genuine Biotech’s Jiebeian, Simcere Pharmaceutical’s Xiannuoxin, Junshi Biosciences’ Mindewei, Zonsen Pharmaceutical’s Leruiling, Cosunter’s Taizhongding, and Aisen Pharmaceutical’s Aoweining. However, multiple pharmacies reported that none of these drugs appeared in their inventories. Online platforms, by contrast, all have them available. Data from JD Pharmacy shows that transaction volumes for COVID-19 medications in July rose nearly fourfold month on month. Faced with surging demand, Simcere Pharmaceutical said it has activated an emergency production mechanism. Cosunter noted that sales of Taizhongding have increased and it will broaden hospital coverage. Junshi Biosciences has also launched an emergency plan to ensure supply. Industry insiders point out that earlier regulatory restrictions confined COVID-19 drugs mainly to hospitals and online sales, and they are calling for a reassessment of retail channel controls.