As a record number of COVID-19 cases fuel demand for antivirals, particularly Pfizer's Paxlovid and Indian generic versions, Chinese health experts are warning that fake versions of Indian generic medicines are flooding the black market in China.
Following the end of the "zero-COVID" policy on December 7, sales of Indian generic versions have skyrocketed through Chinese e-commerce platforms.
This is because Paxlovid is hard to come by and is heavily regulated in government clinics. Nirmatrelvir, a crucial component, was not present in some Chinese Primovir pills that they had purchased, according to those who tested them.
During the flurry of COVID-19 infections, Chinese laboratories are raising the alarm about a new potential threat to public health: a growing trade in counterfeit antiviral drugs.
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