Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Huong Lien, Sao Thai Duong' s Deputy General Director.
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At a recent seminar on prevention of viral diseases, the Sao Thai Duong Company introduced Kovir. Can you tell us more about this product?
The SARS epidemic in 2003 shocked Vietnam. Several Vietnamese and foreign doctors and medical workers were killed by the virus.
At that time, I was pregnant. As a mother, I was very concerned about what to do to protect my family, colleagues, and community. I came up with an idea for a product which would be good for everyone, especially for women.
After researching traditional experiences and medicinal plants, conducting preclinical tests with mice, and extensive clinical testing, in 2014 we registered Kovir as a vitamin supplement.
What are the main characteristics of the product?
Our product offers an extra option for pregnant women and children. We all know that pregnant women are limited in using antibiotics to prevent disease. Kovir is made from medicinal herbs which were used by our ancestors to prevent disease. Kovir is in the form of a pleasant-tasting soft capsule, very easy for both adults and children to consume.
Let me give you an example. Suppose an office has 50 people. If one becomes infected with a virus, the others will normally contract the viral disease. But if the other people in the office are taking Kovir as a preventive medicine, they will probably not get the disease from their infected co-worker.
Vietnam has so far controlled the COVID-19 pandemic well. But many other countries like France, Germany, the UK, and the US have struggled to control its spread.
We hope on this program to introduce VOV listeners to an effective way to reduce the risk of acute viral respiratory infections. Kovir will increase your resistance very quickly, to help prevent your contracting such a disease.
How has Kovir contributed to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic?
Many consumers have gotten to know Kovir since its introduction to the market 4 years ago. In February this year when Vietnam quarantined several COVID-19 areas, we donated 24,000 units of Kovir products, including mouthwash and sanitizer to doctors, medical staff, border guards, the Hanoi Capital High Command, and reporters on the frontline. This was our token of gratitude to frontline volunteers at the highest risk of infection.
Thank you for granting VOV this interview. That was pharmacist Nguyen Thi Huong Lien, Deputy General Director of the Sao Thai Duong Company.
Kovir is made from probiotic extracts capable of inhibiting the growth of several bacteria and viruses.
A Kovir capsule contains garlic oil, colostrum, and a variety of folk remedies such as Rhizoma Cimicifugae, Paeonia lactiflora Pall, liquorice, Kudzu, honeysuckle, and fig-wort. Clinical tests by the Sao Thai Duong Company have shown Kovir to be safe and effective against viruses.
The product is undergoing a second phase of the clinical tests at a central hospital to find out the optimal dose for patients with acute viral respiratory infections.
“If these clinical tests are successful, Kovir will be sold as a medicine instead of a vitamin supplement. We expect Kovir to be a new useful weapon in the COVID-19 fight,” said pharmacist Nguyen Thi Huong Lien, Deputy General Director of the Sao Thai Duong Company.