A news report by Science and Technology Daily: 

Is there any specific drug to fight against COVID-19? When can we get access to 
the specific drug? These two questions are hard to answer for now. Developing 
the specific drug is quite tough. It is not practical when R&D works of new 
drugs usually takes too long and costs too much. 

Chinese scientists realized screening existing drugs for new uses is a faster 
approach to combat COVID-19. 

The researchers quickly selected 5,000 potentially effective drugs from more 
than 70,000 drugs or compounds, and then screened 100 drugs to carry out in 
vivo experiments of novel coronavirus activity. Every essential step of 
clinical trials and safety evaluation for drug development should be ensured in 
the process of new uses for existing drugs. All related R&D activities adhere 
to the principles of safety, efficacy and accessibility.

"All the current drugs used in clinical application have undergone rigorous 
safety research and evaluation. The indications, contraindications and adverse 
reactions are specified in the drug instructions. Users' safety can be 
guaranteed if they strictly follow treatment methods listed in the instructions 
and the diagnosis and treatment plan," Zhang Xinmin, Director of the Biology 
Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), told Science and 
Technology Daily. 

"To prevent mild and ordinary cases turning into severe cases, we focused on 
promoting Chloroquine Phosphate, Familavir and traditional Chinese medicine 
(TCM). The clinical application of convalescent plasma therapy, Tocilizumab, 
stem cells therapy and artificial liver therapy are promoted to treat patients 
in severe and critical condition. So far, we have achieved progress in both 
situations," Zhang Xinmin said.

The antimalarial drug Chloroquine Phosphate and the anti-influenza drug Arbidol 
have been included in the sixth version of the COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment 
guidelines. Tocilizumab, which was originally used to treat moderate to severe 
rheumatoid arthritis, has been included in the seventh version of the 
guidelines. Currently, it is used to treat severe patients. Fapiravir has 
completed clinical research and shown good efficacy. After being fully 
demonstrated, it has been officially recommended to be included in the COVID-19 
diagnosis and treatment guidelines as soon as possible.

Zhang said that the application of the research achievements and China's 
medical treatment plan will be promoted in response to the current pandemic.

It is worth mentioning that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an 
important role in Chinese approach to fight against COVID-19.

"Xuanfeibaidu Granule is a prescription based on a combination of medical 
literature, clinical experience, and drug screening. We initiated a program of 
developing new granular drugs based on the formula of Xuanfeibaidu which has 
good clinical efficacy," Said Zhang Boli, member of the Central Guidance Team, 
academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and president of 
Tianjin University of TCM. He and Liu Qingquan, who is also a member of Central 
Guidance Team and president of the Beijing Hospital of TCM, swiftly conducted 
syndrome research, and on this basis carried out evaluation research on the 
clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as well as drug 
screening and new drug development.

At present, Zhang Boli's team has collected 65 kinds of marketed Chinese patent 
medicines for anti-influenza and anti-pneumonia, and completed the preparation 
of Chinese patent medicine components, virtual screening combined with in vitro 
evaluation, cytokine storm cell model and anti-pulmonary fibrosis cell model 
establishment.

SOURCE  Science and Technology Daily