New Drugs, Updated Guidelines, and Emphasis on Patient Safety

China Releases Updated Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment Plan for 2025

The Chinese government has released its 2025 Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment Plan, aiming to standardize practices in medical institutions nationwide. This plan introduces two new anti-influenza drugs, marbaloxavir and favipiravir, while removing amantadine and rimantadine.

The plan lists six anti-influenza drugs available in China, including oseltamivir, peramivir, and zanamivir. Marbaloxavir, an RNA polymerase inhibitor approved in China in 2021, should not be used for children under 5, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women. Favipiravir, another RNA polymerase inhibitor approved in 2020, is primarily used for adults when other treatments are ineffective.

The removal of amantadine and rimantadine aligns with clinical needs. The plan also emphasizes the importance of proper medication use and adequate rest for recovery. Patients experiencing adverse reactions should stop medication and seek medical attention.

Compared to its 2020 predecessor, the 2025 plan provides detailed updates, including refined pathology and clinical manifestations of influenza in children and the elderly, new classification standards for mild and moderate cases, and comprehensive guidelines for antiviral treatments and supportive care.

The plan explicitly states that antiviral drugs with the same mechanism should not be combined and dosages should not be increased unnecessarily. This ensures patient safety and avoids unnecessary medication use.

In December 2024, influenza activity was high across China, with the positive rate for influenza-like illness rising from 4.5% in mid-November to 28.6% in late December. Influenza A (H1N1) accounted for over 99% of cases.