TCM firm granted seal of approval during pandemic

Unique strength

A white paper titled "Fighting COVID-19 China in Action", released by the State Council Information Office in early June, recognized "the unique strength of TCM in preemptive prevention, differentiated medication, and multi-targeted intervention, and at every step of COVID-19 treatment and control".

At a news conference organized by the office in March, Lianhua Qingwen was among the officially recommended TCM treatments for the disease, among three drugs and three formulas.

Lianhua Qingwen was also recommended for a national treatment scheme targeting COVID-19 cases from its fourth to seventh edition. The plan was released by the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In addition, local health and TCM authorities, including those in Beijing and Hubei province, recommended the drug in their respective treatment plans.

Yiling has beefed up its production of the drug since the outbreak of the virus.

In late January, all of its production lines were used to make Lianhua Qingwen, with its daily peak output reaching 53 million capsules and 2 million bags of granules.

The focus on rolling out the sole drug remained until early March, when the company began to resume production of its other patented medicines.

Yiling will continue to promote sales of Lianhua Qingwen from the perspectives of branding, distribution channels and retail outlets, said Wu Rui, board secretary of the company.

With the reopening of schools and the resumption of business in China, the drug is expected to continue its growth momentum, contributing to protecting people's health, Wu added.

Yiling plans to expand production related to Lianhua Qingwen, with an annual goal of adding 7.5 billion capsules, 990 million bags of granules and 2.1 billion tablets, according to a company statement in March.