Rocketing demand for COVID-19 drugs in China

China defended on Tuesday its ability to rapidly scale up the production of COVID-19 medicine amid fears of further surge in infections as millions prepare to travel throughout the country for Lunar New Year celebrations. At CR Double Crane factories, a state-owned pharmaceutical company in Beijing, staff are working in 24-hour shifts to produce the Chinese COVID-19 drug, Azvudine.

Officials said the current capacity is 5 million tablets a day, but they are aiming at expanding the daily capacity to 15 million by the end of January. China will include Azvudine and the Chinese herbal blend medicine Qingfei Paidu Granules in its national reimbursement list that allows patients to get it at a cheaper price throughout the country.