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Genuine Biotech's azvudine is under NDA review for treating COVID-19

Henan-based Genuine Biotech said on July 15 that the NMPA has accepted the NDA of its HIV-1 drug azvudine for the treatment of COVID-19. It remains to see when azvudine will be approved to become the first China-developed drug for the coronavirus.

In July 2021, the NMPA gave conditional approval to azvudine to treat HIV-1-infected adult patients with high viral loads. Used in combination with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), azvudine is a dual-targeting nucleoside-based anti-HIV-1 drug that inhibits nucleoside reverse transcriptase and viral infectivity factor (Vif).

And the next indication for azvudine could be COVID-19. Phase III trials have been conducted in China, Brazil and Russia.

Writing in Nature in October 2020, researchers said azvudine could shorten the nucleic acid negative conversion (NANC) time.

“In the [azvudine] group, the mean times of the first NANC is 2.6 days, while for the control group, this value is 5.6 days,” they wrote in the paper. “The NANC rate is 100% after treatment for four days in the [azvudine] group, significantly higher than that (73% after 28-day treatment) in the hydroxychloroquine treatment group.”

They added that the drug was well-tolerated without drug-related adverse events.

By Elise Mak

What else in China:

AI Biotech Fermion, which focuses on CNS, autoimmune and refractory tumours, has closed a Series B round of funding of over RMB 100 million.

Protein degradation company Attec Biotech hasclosed a Pre-A round of funding to advance the development of its next generation protein degradation agent drug based on ATTEC technology.

Linno Pharma, focused on crossing the blood-brain barrier and complementation, announces the completion of a pre-A round of funding.

China Immunotech, which specialises in gene editing T-cell immunotherapy products, has closed a Series B+ funding round.

Haisco's Ciprofol injection received approval for a new indication in China: sedation during intensive care.

Sihuan Pharmaceutical intends to sell its generics and other non-core traditional pharmaceutical assets.

Kingfriend intends to acquire a 16.66% interest in Meitheal Pharmaceuticals for $21 million in cash. Upon completion of this transaction, Kingfriend will own 99.99% of Meitheal.

By Sarina Yang