Will There Be an Effect on Wuhan Pneumonia Treatment... US Pharmaceutical Companies Supply HIV Treatment Drugs at China's Request

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] In the absence of a developed treatment for the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), it has been reported that U.S. pharmaceutical companies are supplying antiviral drugs, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatments, at the request of Chinese health authorities.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 27th (local time), U.S. pharmaceutical companies such as AbbVie are supplying HIV treatments to China. This is reportedly in response to Chinese authorities' request to test the efficacy of these drugs on patients confirmed to have the novel coronavirus. This treatment was first approved 20 years ago and is sold under names such as Kaletra. It belongs to a class of protease inhibitor drugs designed to block enzymes that assist viral replication.

Johnson & Johnson also decided to ship the HIV treatment Prezcobix to China at the request of Chinese authorities. This treatment is also a protease inhibitor drug combining two antiviral substances.

With no drugs or vaccines yet available to treat the novel coronavirus, Chinese health authorities are reportedly administering antiviral drugs used for HIV treatment experimentally to patients.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.