China approves use of Pfizer's COVID drug Paxlovid

It is not immediately clear if China is already in talks with Pfizer to procure the pill

China's medical products regulator said on Saturday it has given conditional approval for Pfizer's COVID-19 drug Paxlovid, making it the first oral pill specifically developed to treat the disease cleared in the country, Qazet.az reports citing Reuters.

The National Medical Products Administration said Paxlovid is approved to treat adults who have mild to moderate COVID-19 and high risk of progressing to a severe condition. Further study on the drug needed to be conducted and submitted to the authority, it said.

It is not immediately clear if China is already in talks with Pfizer to procure the pill.

"This is an important milestone in our fight against COVID-19," a Pfizer representative said in a statement, without providing information about procurement.