Shaghai - A Chinese drugmaker with military ties has sent an
experimental Ebola drug to Africa for use by Chinese aid workers and
is planning clinical trials there to combat a deadly outbreak of the
disease, executives at the firm told Reuters on Thursday.
experimental Ebola drug to Africa for use by Chinese aid workers and
is planning clinical trials there to combat a deadly outbreak of the
disease, executives at the firm told Reuters on Thursday.
Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd has supplied several
thousand doses of its drug JK-05 to the region, Chief Operating Officer
Jia Zhongxin said. More doses could be sent if needed, Jia said.
thousand doses of its drug JK-05 to the region, Chief Operating Officer
Jia Zhongxin said. More doses could be sent if needed, Jia said.
An Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the worst on record, has killed more
than 4 000 people.
Governments and drugmakers around the globe have been racing to
find a treatment for the outbreak, which has spread as far as the
United States and Europe. U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged
to get more "aggressive" against the disease.
than 4 000 people.
Governments and drugmakers around the globe have been racing to
find a treatment for the outbreak, which has spread as far as the
United States and Europe. U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged
to get more "aggressive" against the disease.
"Aid workers have already taken the drug with them, and if a case
breaks out (amongst the aid workers), then the drug may be used,"
added Huo Caixia, Sihuan's assistant general manager.
breaks out (amongst the aid workers), then the drug may be used,"
added Huo Caixia, Sihuan's assistant general manager.
Sihuan, part-owned by U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley , is
hoping to get the drug fast-tracked for civilian use in China. It has
signed an agreement with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences
(AMMS), a research unit, to seek approval for the drug's use in China
and push it to market.
The drug, approved in China for emergency military use only, was
initially developed by AMMS.
hoping to get the drug fast-tracked for civilian use in China. It has
signed an agreement with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences
(AMMS), a research unit, to seek approval for the drug's use in China
and push it to market.
The drug, approved in China for emergency military use only, was
initially developed by AMMS.
If it proves to be an effective cure it would be a big prize for China's
medical sector and a boost to the country's soft power in Africa, an
increasingly important partner for the world's No.2 economy.
Clinical trials
Sihuan says it is China's third-largest prescription drugmaker. It was
originally a military scientific unit, which was spun off into its current
form in 2001.
medical sector and a boost to the country's soft power in Africa, an
increasingly important partner for the world's No.2 economy.
Clinical trials
Sihuan says it is China's third-largest prescription drugmaker. It was
originally a military scientific unit, which was spun off into its current
form in 2001.
The company is preparing for clinical trials in Africa and could test the
drug on African Ebola patients, said Huo. So far no Chinese nationals
have been infected.
"Right now we're formulating a plan for clinical trials, and don't rule
out the possibility of using African patients," she said, adding that any
outbreak of Ebola in Asia or China would speed up the drug's
timetable to market.
drug on African Ebola patients, said Huo. So far no Chinese nationals
have been infected.
"Right now we're formulating a plan for clinical trials, and don't rule
out the possibility of using African patients," she said, adding that any
outbreak of Ebola in Asia or China would speed up the drug's
timetable to market.
There are around a million Chinese nationals living in Africa, with some
10,000 in the countries most affected by Ebola - Sierra Leone, Guinea
and Liberia.
China has sent hundreds of aid workers to Africa to help in the fight
against the Ebola outbreak and more than $35 million in medical aid
to the worst affected countries.
10,000 in the countries most affected by Ebola - Sierra Leone, Guinea
and Liberia.
China has sent hundreds of aid workers to Africa to help in the fight
against the Ebola outbreak and more than $35 million in medical aid
to the worst affected countries.
China's military has also given Sihuan the green-light to produce
emergency supplies of the drug.
JK-05 has not been used on humans, although Sihuan says it has
proven effective during animal testing on mice.
emergency supplies of the drug.
JK-05 has not been used on humans, although Sihuan says it has
proven effective during animal testing on mice.
Its development lags some way behind U.S.-developed ZMapp and
TKM-Ebola, which have been tested on monkeys and used on Ebola
patients. However, analysts said the drug's similarities to Japanese
influenza drug Favipiravir is an encouraging sign.
TKM-Ebola, which have been tested on monkeys and used on Ebola
patients. However, analysts said the drug's similarities to Japanese
influenza drug Favipiravir is an encouraging sign.
Japanese firm Fujifilm Holdings Corp last week said the French and
Guinean governments were considering clinical trials of Favipiravir,
developed by group firm Toyama Chemical Co, to treat patients
infected with Ebola.
Guinean governments were considering clinical trials of Favipiravir,
developed by group firm Toyama Chemical Co, to treat patients
infected with Ebola.
Source - ReReuters
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