Nitazoxanide compound is synthesized at the Hanoi-based Institute of Chemistry under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. (Photo courtesy of the Institute)

The compound was synthesized on a pilot scale, which is larger than on a lab scale but smaller than the production scale. The Institute Director Nguyen Van Tuyen said the process achieves high efficiency through only two reaction steps, from low-cost raw materials. This is a generic drug with a very cheap price that can be used orally and is safe and suitable for use in Vietnamese conditions, he said.