The Russian Ministry of Health approved a change in the instruction for the drug “Arbidol Maximum” (international non-proprietary name – umifenovir), according to which the drug can be used to treat coronavirus. The updated document was published in the State Register of Medicines (GRLS).
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According to the instructions, in vitro studies in Vero cell culture have shown that the drug specifically inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. A preclinical study was carried out in Moscow at the Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitis named after V.I. M.P. Chumakov RAS. Studies of the drug have been conducted since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in China, Iran, Russia, Australia and India. In China, the drug was included in the national plan for the diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia.
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“Arbidol” refers to direct-acting antiviral drugs. The drug blocks the interaction of the surface protein of the coronavirus and the receptor on the cell surface.
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Earlier, the Ministry of Health included umifenovir in the Temporary Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19).
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Earlier, due to the lack of such information in the instructions for the drug, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) fined the manufacturer of the drug – “OTCPharm” for 200 thousand rubles. for advertising “Arbidol”, which spoke about the effectiveness of the drug for coronavirus.
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According to the headquarters, about 3.8 million cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in Russia. 3.2 million patients have recovered from the coronavirus, more than 71 thousand have died. Over the past day, 17,741 cases of infection have been identified. Russia is in fourth place in the world for the incidence of coronavirus.
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