Authority places more emphasis on evidence-based scientific study Authorities are speeding up efforts to develop new drugs based on
traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions that have proved effective in
treating COVID-19 to boost the fight against the pandemic, China's top
TCM authority said. Meanwhile, scientific and evidence-based research will be given more
emphasis in the development of TCM, which had traditionally been based
on practical experience, to promote its recognition across the world,
the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine said last
month. To accelerate the availability of new COVID-19 drugs, TCM researchers
have intensified efforts, including analyzing data collected during the
use of TCM prescriptions in treating COVID-19 patients across China,
the administration said. Meanwhile, it has been working with the National Medical Products
Administration, the top drug authority, to streamline approval
procedures for TCM drugs based on existing prescriptions. A special
evaluation committee comprising top academicians and TCM practitioners
will be set up, the TCM administration said. Some TCM prescriptions developed as part of the emergency response
right after the start of the epidemic in China have been extensively
used, with promising efficacy recorded. Qingfei Paidu Tang, one of the prescriptions, which is based on a
number of treatments mentioned in a classical TCM work dating back to
the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), has been used in 28 provincial-level
regions since February after trials proved it can effectively improve
the conditions of COVID-19 patients. Many other TCM drugs and prescriptions have also been used together
with modern medicine over the past year to treat COVID-19 patients. More
than 92 percent of confirmed COVID-19 patients in China had used TCM,
according to a white paper released by the central government in June,
and more than 90 percent of patients who received TCM treatment in Hubei
province, the hardest-hit area in China, saw their conditions improve. To help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the TCM administration has
increased exchanges with other countries and regions and provided
assistance such as sending medical teams to guide treatment and
providing TCM drugs at their request. With increasing demand for TCM around the world, the administration
will intensify efforts to promote its internationalization, including
emphasizing the role of scientific research in the development of TCM,
the administration said. "Evidence-based medicine can help further elaborate the scientific
nature and effectiveness of TCM, so international society can have a
better understanding and recognition of TCM," it said. The administration will encourage domestic institutions to intensify
research using the latest technology and improve cooperation with
leading institutes overseas to achieve breakthroughs, the administration
said. Song Ruilin, president of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and
Research Development Association, said although TCM is based on
practical experience, it also needs sufficient scientific evidence to
prove its efficacy, as is the case with modern medicine. Without
adequate data from clinical trials, it will be difficult for TCM to be
widely recognized across the world, he said. "The classic TCM theories must be integrated with the evaluation
methods of modern medicine to promote the healthy development of TCM and
its internationalization," he said.
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