FDA OKs traditional Chinese capsule used to treat mild COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved traditional Chinese capsule Lianhua Qingwen, which is used as a treatment for mild and moderate COVID-19 cases in China, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said.

FDA Director-General Eric Domingo confirmed this in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

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

In a statement, the embassy said FDA’s approval of the capsule meant that the drug has been “formally registered” as a traditional Chinese medicine in the Philippines.

The said capsule is manufactured by traditional medicine manufacturers Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, according to the embassy.

“This marks an important progress in the entry of [traditional Chinese medicine] products into the Philippine market, which we welcome,” it said.

“Lianhua Qingwen Capsule is an approved COVID-19 treatment for mild and moderate cases in China,” it added.

The embassy said the capsule has been approved in Hong Kong, Macao, 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 added.

The embassy then advised consumers to purchase and consume authentic traditional Chinese medicine produced by qualified pharmaceutical manufacturers.

It also expressed hope that traditional Chinese medicine “would play a bigger role to support the efforts of the Philippine government and its people to fight against COVID-19 until the final victory.”

JE