Chinese medicine for COVID-19 patients 

KARACHI: The public announcement regarding the successful first-ever clinical trial of Jinhua Qinggan Granules (JHQG), a Chinese medicine, manufactured by Juxiechang (Beijing) Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd would be made on January 17 at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi. 

JHQG was the first line of traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in China.

Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Director, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, and Coordinator-General, Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Ministerial Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation; (COMSTECH), announced this while presiding over a meeting of experts of clinical sciences held at the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi. 

Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh's Minister for Health and Population Welfare, informed the meeting that the Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research (CBSCR), Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, in collaboration with the Indus Hospital, Karachi, had completed a successful clinical trial of the traditional Chinese medicine known as Jinhua Qinggan Granules.

The phytochemistry of the TCM was carried out at the Husein Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) Research Institute of Chemistry, he said, adding that the public announcement ceremony would be held at the ICCBS - the University of Karachi, jointly organised by Sindh Health & Population Welfare Department, COMSTECH, ICCBS - University of Karachi, and many Chinese institutions. 

Dr Azra Fazal Pechuhu, Prof Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman of Prime Minister's Task Force on Science and Technology and ICCBS Patron-in-chief, Prof Dr Khalid M Iraqi, Vice-Chancellor University of Karachi, Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Excellency Mr Nong Rong, Ambassador of The People's Republic of China in Pakistan, Excellency Mr Moin ul Haque, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in China, Prof Dr M.Raza Shah, Incharge of CBSCR and principal investigator of the study, Prof Dr Farzana Shaheen, Director (Acting) ICCBS, Dr Yu Wenming, Commissioner, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China, and other Chinese officials would also address the public announcement ceremony.