Expert explains use of anti-HIV drugs for treating novel coronavirus

"At this critical moment, we can take special measures to help patients if there are no other treatment methods," Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said, answering a question regarding the use of anti-HIV drugs to treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus in an interview with CCTV on Wednesday.

"It does not violate medical ethics," he said.

Anti-HIV drugs have been used to treat the patients of the new virus in Beijing, the city's municipal health commission confirmed in a statement on its website last Sunday.

Screenshot from the website of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission

Zeng claimed that using anti-HIV drugs was unconventional.

"The clinical trial and instructions of anti-HIV drugs are specifically for treating HIV," he said, adding that anti-HIV drugs should be used under preconditions.

"It has to be proved by ethics and approved by the authorities," said Zeng. "Doctors must get patients' permission after informing them of the risks, and make scientific evaluation in a timely manner after the treatment."

(Top image via CCTV)