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Philippines' FDA approves China's COVID-19 drug for treatment of fever, lung toxins


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug, now being used in China to treat COVID-19, for Philippine use to treat lung toxins, fever and other related symptoms.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo, however, said that the Lian Hua Qing Weng has yet to be approved in Philippines as a treatment for the coronavirus disease.

The drug’s Certificate of Product Registration for the Philippines states that it could be used to combat heat-toxin invasion of the lungs, fever, aversion to cold, muscle soreness, and stuffy and runny nose.

This article has been updated to correct the initial report that the FDA has approved the Chinese medicine for the treatment of mild-COVID-19.

“It was approved last Friday as traditional medicine. It may now be sold, prescribed, and used in the Philippines,” Domingo told GMA News Online.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a statement that Lianhua Qingwen capsule had been an approved in China to treat mild COVID-19.

The embassy noted that the drug has also been approved in Hong Kong, Macau, Brazil, Indonesia, Canada, Mozambique, Romania, Thailand, Ecuador, Singapore and Laos.

“It is our sincere hope that its entrance into the Philippine market will contribute to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in this country and help the patients with mild and moderate symptoms recover,” it said.

The embassy also reminded consumers to purchase and consume authentic traditional Chinese medicine only.

The Philippines has logged over 143,749 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon.

Out of the 72,348 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 91.3 percent are mild, 7.3 percent are asymptomatic, 0.6 percent are severe, and 0.7 percent are in critical condition. -NB, GMA News

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