China conditionally approves Pfizer’s Covid treatment pill Paxlovid

It is not clear if China is in talks with drugmaker to procure treatment, the first oral pill cleared in country

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China's medical products regulator has conditionally approved Pfizer's Covid-19 drug Paxlovid, making it the first oral pill specifically developed to treat the disease cleared in the country.

The National Medical Products Administration said Paxlovid had been approved to treat adults who have mild to moderate Covid-19 and who are at high risk of progressing to a severe condition. Further study on the drug needed to be conducted and submitted to the authority, it said.