Infectious disease expert Ho Pak-leung said that two Covid-19 drugs from China, whose clinical tests are approved by Hong Kong authorities, can reduce the risk of severe illness or death by 78 percent if they are taken within five days of onset of illness.
The two drugs are BRII-196 and BRII-198. Clinical tests have started in the United States, Central and South America, and the Philippines.
Ho said that the monoclonal antibody drugs started to be developed in the mainland about a year ago and were published in the scientific journal Nature.
"After isolating the antibodies from the blood of recovered patients, the drug can neutralize the S protein of the Covid-19," Ho said.
He also said that Hong Kong has not seen cases of severe illness or death since September, plus most of the confirmed cases have been vaccinated so that there may not be a lot of people in the city who need the drugs.
Ho said that the monoclonal antibody drugs started to be developed in the mainland about a year ago and were published in the scientific journal Nature.
"After isolating the antibodies from the blood of recovered patients, the drug can neutralize the S protein of the Covid-19," Ho said.
He also said that Hong Kong has not seen cases of severe illness or death since September, plus most of the confirmed cases have been vaccinated so that there may not be a lot of people in the city who need the drugs.