Clinical Research on XYPI
XYPI is a broad-spectrum antiviral Chinese patent medicine that is widely used to treat acute URI, viral pneumonia and pulmonary infection in clinical practice with good efficacy. Recent studies have discovered that it can also inhibit some viruses and bacteria, and could be used to treat influenza, human infection with H7N9 avian influenza, capillary bronchitis and other diseases (see  Table 3 ). XYPI has been recommended in China’s Diagnosis and Treatment Scheme for Human Infection with H7N9 Avian Influenza (Version 2017).
Xiuping Yin et al. used the association rule method to analyze drug combinations, including XYPI in patients with pulmonary infection. The results showed that it could play a role as alternative or as a supplement to antibiotics in the treatment of pulmonary infection, but the safety and rationality of its use in drug combinations required further study in clinical practice (Yin et al., 2015). Guangming Li et al. conducted a retrospective analysis of 92 patients with viral pneumonia and found that XYPI was more effective than Ribavirin, providing significant improvement of symptoms (Li, 2015). Ruihan Qi et al. analyzed the therapeutic effect of XYPI in the treatment of viral pneumonia by systematic evaluation and found that it was more effective than Ribavirin. XYPI increased the cure rate, improved signs and symptoms, and reduced the incidence of adverse reactions (Qi et al., 2018). Lili Zhang et al. used XYPI in combination with Western medicine to treat severe pneumonia of the elderly in clinical practice. The results showed that it significantly shortened the course of disease, improved treatment efficiency, reduced the incidence of antibiotic resistance, reduced occurrence of double infection, improved the prognosis, and reduced mortality (Zhang and Wang, 2015). Zhixu Yang et al. observed the clinical effect of XYPI in treating the syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing lung of severe pneumonia from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. The results showed significant improvements that included reduced fever, reduced numbers of leukocytes, improved oxygen index, lower clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), and reduced pulmonary inflammation. It also shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in ICU, and improved the clinical effect (Yang et al., 2014). In addition, XYPI has also shown significant efficacy in the treatment of URI. Xiaowen Liu et al. conducted a retrospective analysis of 660 patients with acute URI and found that the total response rate in the XYPI treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The difference was statistically significant (Liu and Li, 2015).