Homegrown COVID-19 pill gets regulatory approval

China's top drug regulator said on Monday it has granted conditional approval for a homegrown oral pill to be used to treat COVID-19.

Azvudine, developed by Genuine Biotech Co Ltd based in Henan province, was first approved to treat HIV/AIDS patients on July 20 last year, according to the National Medical Products Administration.

The approval clears the way for the pill to be used for adults with moderate COVID-19 symptoms, the administration said in a notice released on its official website.