Shares in Chinese pharma firm tank

BEIJING, Apr 18 (AFP): Shares in one of China's largest traditional medicine producers plunged on Monday after reports questioned the efficacy of pills approved by the government as a coronavirus treatment.
Shanghai authorities have joined their Hong Kong counterparts in handing out 'Lianhua Qingwen'-a herbal remedy marketed for fever and sore throats-as the cities battle their worst Covid-19 outbreaks since the pandemic's start.
But on Sunday, popular Chinese health platform Dingxiang Yisheng said the capsules, made by Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical, could not prevent cases of the virus, in a report then picked up by state media.