A new effective COVID-19 drug, Huashi Baidu granules, is now officially available on the market, announced the China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (Sinopharm) in Beijing on March 25.

The drug is one of China's first batch of traditional Chinese medicine-based (TCM) compound preparations derived from ancient prescriptions targeting epidemic diseases and features completely independent intellectual property rights.

The granules derive from the Huashi Baidu formula, one of the "three medicines and three formulas" (including Jinhua Qinggan granules, Lianhua Qingwen capsules, Xuebijing injection, Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying decoction, Huashi Baidu formula, and the Xuanfei Baidu formula) and is proven effective in treating COVID-19.

The three formulas were approved for the market by the National Medical Products Administration earlier this month. The official release of the granules fully recognizes the clinical efficacy of TCM in treating the epidemic and its contribution to the accumulation of scientific data, which marks a significant event in the development of TCM, said Sun Da, deputy director-general of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

"This is not only the launch of a new drug; it's a trailblazing event in terms of TCM laws and reform and the review and approval process for TCM, making it of landmark significance," stressed Huang Luqi, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS).

Huang added that the granules stem from the Huashi Baidu formula developed by the CACMS medical team — the first national TCM team to rush to Wuhan in the wake of the novel coronavirus' detection in the city. The medicine has since been included in the sixth, seventh, and eighth editions of the national diagnosis and treatment plan for COVID-19.

Sinopharm chairman Liu Jingzhen noted that full support will be given to realize the mass production of the Huashi Baidu granules to help enable TCM to play its unique role and advantages in dealing with new major public health emergencies.

At present, relevant preparations for the industrialization of the Huashi Baidu granules have been made to fully meet the demand of the market, said Cheng Xueren, general manager of EFONG Pharmaceutical, a company affiliated with Sinopharm's China Traditional Chinese Medicine Holdings Co. Limited ("China TCM") and responsible for the industrialization of the granules.

Next, overseas registration of Huashi Baidu granules will be promoted. 

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