Junshi’s oral antiviral shows signs of effectiveness in treating patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms but more data are needed, caution researchers.

Chinese drug makers have more to lament and plenty to learn from as Junshi, HutchMed follow Innovent Bio with FDA rejections. A holistic not opportunistic approach is needed, one ex-FDA expert suggests.

Simcere is weighing options for SIM0417 in a Phase I trial in China as the first major domestically-developed potential rival to Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid. The study is likely to include wider patient groups ranging from those without symptoms to severe patients.

Chinese firm Kintor disclosed findings from a pivotal Phase III trial showing its androgen receptor antagonist proxalutamide achieved a 50% reduction in risk of hospitalization or death in COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate infection, although uncertainty remains over it being “unable to provide” a p-value in some data analyses.