Sinopharm gets OK to test drug for COVID-19

Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm has gained approval from the National Medical Products Administration to launch clinical trials of a COVID-19 drug based on human immunoglobulin derived from vaccinated people on Aug 30, 2021.

The drug is the world's first COVID-19 therapy that uses plasma containing rich amounts of antibodies to fight off the novel coronavirus, and it adds to the company's expanding portfolio of medical products targeting the disease, including four vaccines that have already been rolled out or are under research.

The experimental medication is being developed by Beijing Tiantan Biological Products, administered by China National Biotech Group, a Sinopharm subsidiary.