China is testing an HIV drug as a treatment for symptoms of the new coronavirus that is rapidly spreading, said drug-maker AbbVie Inc on Sunday.
China health authorities requested the drug-maker to help with the government's efforts to address the crisis, according to Adelle Infante, a spokeswoman for North Chicago, Illinois-based AbbVie.
Aluvia, which is also known as Kaletra, is a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir.
In guidance published on Thursday, the government said there is no effective anti-virus medicine but suggested taking two lopinavir/ritonavir pills and inhaling a dose of nebulized alpha-interferon twice a day.
Health authorities around the world are racing to prevent a pandemic after more than 2,000 people were infected in China and around 80 died after contracting the virus.
Published 27 January 2020, 02:48 IST