Men probed in COVID medicine price gouging

Tianjin's market regulator and security bureau jointly launched a probe into the resale of Paxlovid — Pfizer's anti-viral medication designed to treat COVID-19 — at 12,000 yuan ($1,743.6) per box, around six times its original price.

The authorities said in a statement on Wednesday that a man surnamed Qi got a box of Paxlovid from his brother, who worked for an online hospital, and sold the medicine to a man surnamed Jia for 7,000 yuan. Jia later resold it for 12,000 yuan, they said.

During the investigation, Jia was also found to have purchased another box of Paxlovid for 1,890 yuan and resold it for 7,000 yuan.

Paxlovid is currently available at community-level clinics in Shanghai and Beijing, as well as through online platforms. It can by bought with China's medical insurance.

Each box of Paxlovid contains 30 tablets — 20 tablets of nirmatrelvir and 10 tablets of nirmatrelvir.