The domestic new crown "special drug" came out, and the outside world paid a lot of attention.
What exactly does a special drug look like?
In the face of the "Omi kerong" variant strain, can this drug be effectively dealt with?
Compared with foreign special drugs, how effective is the first domestic one?
This issue of CCTV Finance "Dialogue" invited guests from the three parties of joint research and development, who participated in the whole process of special drugs from research and development, production to clinical trials, they are:
Linqi Zhang is a professor at Tsinghua University School of Medicine, director of the Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research and Comprehensive AIDS Research Center of Tsinghua University
Luo Yongqing, CEO of Tengsheng Huachuang
Liu Lei, Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen
There is also an on-site connection of Academician Zhong Nanshan
Answer your questions one by one.
What does a COVID-19 drug look like?
Zhang Linqi, professor at Tsinghua University School of Medicine and director of the Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research and Comprehensive Research on AIDS at Tsinghua University, said to the two bottles of the new crown special drug: "These two bottles carry the two anti-new coronavirus antibodies developed by our joint efforts, and its combination can implement a strong inhibitory effect before the virus infects cells." ”
Who is the drug suitable for?
Luo Yongqing, CEO of Tengsheng Huachuang, said that the approved and registered COVID-19 special drug will be used to treat adults and adolescents (12-17 years old, weighing ≥40kg) with mild and ordinary types and accompanied by high-risk factors for progression to severe (including hospitalization or death).
What is the efficacy of this special drug?
Luo Yongqing explained with data that through a large randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial of 847 patients included in four continents, six countries and 111 clinical institutions around the world, it proved that it could reduce the hospitalization rate, severe rate and mortality rate of these patients by 80%, which is very powerful compared to the control group.
Academician Zhong Nanshan said that the development process of special drugs is of great significance. For example, the "Delta" community that appeared on May 21 is very cross-transmitted, in such a situation, China wants to carry out the second phase, once organized a lot of experts in Guangzhou to discuss, everyone thought it was necessary to use special drugs, and finally everyone discussed and signed together. After the use of specific drugs, from the clinician's observation, in a relatively short period of time (about two or three days), the relatively high viral load dropped rapidly.
Is it effective against mutated viruses?
Luo Yongqing said that it is effective for now.
He said that in March last year, when it was still a wild strain, there was no "alpha", "beta" or "delta", and the work done at that time was to select the two most capable antibodies, the strongest antiviral ability, and the mechanism of action of the two antibodies was complementary. If one of the antibodies escapes, the other antibody can fight completely independently.
How will specific drugs be priced?
Luo Yongqing revealed in the program that although it has not yet been determined, there can be some references, such as the three antibodies of the overseas batch, which are one person and one injection. Overseas government procurement prices are $2,100, and because government procurement is a purchase of millions of copies, it is the lowest price.
How long does it take to produce a bottle of medicine?
Luo Yongqing said that from the beginning of the recovery of cells, to the production of the original solution, the filling of the original solution, and then to the inspection, the whole process is as long as 4 to 5 months.
He explained that the production of biological drug antibodies, because they are living cells, require a natural growth process. Through the fermentation technology, the cells produce the antibodies we want, and after the production, they must be purified, carry out a series of processes such as various filtration, and finally make it into a vial, and each process has very strict standards.
Compared with foreign countries, what is the level of our special drugs?
Luo Yongqing said that there are now a total of 4 antibodies that have been approved in the world, including 3 in Europe and the United States and 1 in China. Through the experiment just made by Professor Zhang Linqi, it has been proved that this special drug in China still maintains comprehensive antiviral activity against the "Aomi Kerong" mutant strain. At least two of the three overseas models have now been declared to fight against "Omi Kerong", which has greatly reduced the ability to fight viruses. Therefore, it can be said without shame, whether it is from the clinical efficacy, safety, or the ability to fight mutant strains, and the role of providing protection from September to December, this special drug in China is in a leading position.
Source: CCTV Finance