New oral antiviral drug to be used for treatment of COVID-19

The National Medical Products Administration has recently granted conditional market approval for an oral antiviral drug RAY1216 in a bid to treat COVID-19.

The drug can be used to treat adults with mild and moderate symptoms of COVID-19, but it must be taken under medical supervision, the administration said.

RAY1216 is a drug developed by Guangdong Zhongsheng Pharmaceutical.