(Yicai Global) Feb. 27 -- Simcere Pharmaceutical Group's Xiannuoxin, China's first homegrown 3CL protease inhibitor pill for Covid-19, has started being produced at the drugmaker's plants in Hainan province and Nanjing.

Simcere has stepped up resources to speed up the drug's availability at healthcare centers in China, The Paper reported today. Xiannuoxin's production capacity is rising and will be further adjusted based on the pandemic's situation, the Nanjing-based firm said yesterday at a conference in Haikou, the capital of Hainan.

3CL is a major protease found in coronavirus and necessary for its replication, and restraining its proteolysis can inhibit the virus' replication. 3CL is one of two key targets of global Covid-19 drugs, with China approving two protease inhibitor treatments, including Pfizer's Paxlovid. 

Simcere's oral small-molecule drug used to treat adults with mild coronavirus symptoms is priced at CNY750 (USD108) per box. In comparison, Paxlovid retails for CNY1,890 (USD272) in China.

The three other Covid-19 drugs approved for use in the country are RdRp inhibitors: Merck's Molnupiravir, Genuine Biotech's Azvudine, and Junshi Biosciences' Mindewei.

Xiannuoxin became China's first self-developed 3CL protease inhibitor pill for Covid-19 to be approved for sale by the National Medical Products Administration in Jan. 29. Production began on Feb. 11.

Under China's Covid-19 outbreak prevention and control policy, coronavirus drugs have been added to the national medical insurance plan until March 31. Patients covered pay less than CNY100 for each box of Xiannuoxin.

Simcere's shares [HKG: 2096] closed down 0.4 percent at HKD10.18 (USD1.30) apiece today. The Hang Seng Index, which tracks the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ended 0.3 percent lower.

Editor: Martin Kadiev