(Yicai Global) Dec. 8 -- Shares of several drugmakers, including Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical, surged after China released a list of drugs commonly used to treat Covid-19 infections.

Yiling Pharma [SHE: 002603], the developer of Lianhua Qingwen, a traditional Chinese medicine, jumped 5.4 percent to close at CNY51.76 (USD7.43) today, after hitting an all-time of CNY53.96. Its stock price has climbed nearly 170 percent this year for a market valuation of CNY86.5 billion (USD12.4 billion).

Shares of Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical [SHE: 000756], a major producer of Ibuprofen in China, soared by the exchange-imposed daily limit of 10 percent to CNY29.66 today. Hubei Biocause Heilen Pharmaceutical [SHE: 301211], a supplier of ingredients for Ibuprofen, closed up 8.4 percent at CNY36.01.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, issued guidelines for home treatment of people with the coronavirus, listing recommended drugs for various symptoms, including fever, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, and vomiting. Eight drugs, including Lianhua Qingwen and Ibuprofen, are recommended for fever.

Home treatment is suitable for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic infections without serious underlying diseases, the guidelines noted. Asymptomatic cases do not need drugs. Symptomatic patients should take medicines according to pharmaceutical instructions and avoid blindly using antibiotics.

As China adjusted its Covid-19 prevention and control measures recently, the demand for anti-influenza drugs, including Lianhua Qingwen, has surged, leading to some pharmacies running out and much higher prices on some e-commerce platforms.

Covid-19 is a self-limited disease with most infections being asymptomatic, and most infected people can recover without taking medicines, so it is not recommended that people buy drugsneedlessly, especially as some can cause many side effects, according to an infectious disease expert.

Editor: Peter Thomas