Taiwan Today
Date: February 21, 2020

President Tsai Ing-wen said Feb. 20 that efforts by national institutions researching the virus behind COVID-19 are already showing promising results, with progress toward producing an antiviral drug right on target.
 
State-backed National Health Research Institutes is heading related R&D by leveraging its biotechnological prowess and cutting-edge production facilities, Tsai said.
 
It can now produce Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug thought to be effective against coronaviruses, in milligram batches with 97 percent purity, and will proceed to gram batches in two weeks, she added.
 
Tsai made the remarks during a visit to the organization’s base in Miaoli County, northern Taiwan, for an inspection tour of preparedness in the face of a global outbreak of COVID-19 first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.    [FULL  STORY]