Avifavir (medicine from COVID-19)

2020

The price of Avifavir in drugstores - 8 thousand rubles

On September 24, 2020 the cost of Avifavir in drugstores became known. There medicine will be on sale at the price about 8 thousand rubles that is 4 thousand rubles cheaper than other COVID-19 coronavirus medicine — Areplivira.

Our price will be about 8 thousand rubles. We consider that the price which a number of analogs made — 12 thousand rubles is very high price. We delayed our exit in drugstores specially a little to provide the price more reasonable — the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriyev at a press conference said, having emphasized that cost medicine will be 30% lower than analogs.

He noted that in the future the price on Avifavir can fall. Also RDIF will work on inclusion of medicine in the list of vital and essential drugs.

New coronavirus medicine Avifavir will cost 8 thousand rubles in drugstores

By September 24, 2020 Avifavir is free of charge available in the Russian hospitals (it is applied in hospitals under observation of doctors), as well as other medicines to treatment of a coronavirus of new type. At the same time the Ministry of Health several drugs in drugstores, including Areplivir approved sale earlier (the recommended retail price — 12,320 rubles, in one packaging of 40 tablets on 200 mg, medicine will be released according to the recipe) and Koronavir (11,550 rubles, 50 tablets in packaging). As will package Avifavir, by September 24, 2020 it is not reported.

Since April, 2020 years part in the researches "Avifavira" was taken by 408 patients with the confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus in 35 medical centers for all Russia. In October the number of patients will increase to 460, told in RDIF. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, during clinical trials the medicine "Avifavir" showed efficiency of 90%. RDIF provided non-paid financing on development and preclinical researches of medicine.^[1]

Deliveries to Latin America

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Himrar group will deliver the domestic medicine "Avifavir" for treatment of patients with a koronavirusny infection on the territory of Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, Paraguay, El Salvador, Uruguay and Ecuador.

Sale of medicine will be performed through Kromis company (Avifavira developer whose cofounders are RDIF and Himrar Group) and also the Bolivian company Sigma Corp S.R.L. (Industria Quimico Farmaceutica Sigma Corp S.R.L.). The relevant agreement was signed on July 29, 2020.

The document provides delivery of at least 150 thousand packagings of Avifavir. Besides, to the production site of the partner in Bolivia the technology of receiving a ready dosage form of medicine will be transferred.

Start of deliveries abroad

On July 2, 2020 it became known of the beginning of deliveries of Avifavir abroad. Export of medicine for treatment of a koronavirusny infection (COVID-19) became possible thanks to increase in production.

As reported on the website of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), in June, 2020 Avifavir was delivered in medical institutions of 35 regions of Russia and also to Belarus. Besides, the agreement on supply of medicine to Kazakhstan was reached.

The Russian medicines for treatment of a coronavirus began to deliver abroad

RDIF and Himrar noted that essential interest in acquisition of medicine is expressed by some countries of Latin America with which negotiations, the CIS countries, the Middle East and other regions of the world are conducted.

In June the first 100 thousand Avifavira rates were produced, it was initially going to produce about 60 thousand rates. RDIF  reported that their joint venture with Himrar allowed to increase production three times, to 300 thousand rates a month. It will be so possible to meet demand for medicine in Russia and to begin deliveries to international market, it is specified in the press release.

With accounting of the solution of U.S. authorities to buy nearly 100% made Remdesivira (Gilead Sciences companies) in the coming months and deficit of effective medicines in the world market, Russia is ready to come to the rescue of other countries in fight against a coronavirus and to begin foreign deliveries "Avifavira — the head of RDIF Kirill Dmitriyev said.

He also noted that the Russian medicine many times cheaper and has the convenient form of release in the form of tablets. According to Dmitriyev, medicine allows to perform therapy at early stages of COVID-19.

Dmitriyev added that interest in medicine was expressed already by over 50 countries in this connection RDIF and Himrar intend to expand production and geography of deliveries of Avifavir "within the coming months".^[2]

Registration by the Russian Ministry of Health

On May 30, 2020 the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation registered the Russia's first cure for treatment of a coronavirus of COVID-19. Medicine received the name "Avifavir".

As reported in RDIF,  "registered the first in the Russian Federation medicine of direct antiviral action breaking mechanisms of reproduction of a coronavirus", and it showed "high efficiency at treatment of patients with a coronavirus during clinical trials".

The Russian Ministry of Health registered the first coronavirus medicine

Medicine  will not go  on free sale. It will be possible to use it only in hospital and under medical control. The drug is strictly forbidden to be taken expectant mothers and also in a family planning period. Deliveries of Avifavir to medical institutions are expected since June 11, 2020. By May 30 about 18 thousand packagings of medicine are produced. By the time of receipt in hospitals amount should grow to 60 thousand pieces, the representative of RDIF reported Izvestia.

In the instruction on medical application of LP-006225 it is specified that Avifavir is registered for application in the conditions of emergence and liquidation of emergency. Validity period of the registration certificate expires on January 1, 2021.

In addition to COVID-19, medicine has antiviral activity concerning flu A, B, including high-pathogenic strains of bird flu H5N1, H7N9. Information is specified in the instruction on medical application. Medicine affects enzyme a RNA polymerase, interfering with replication of a virus.^[3]

According to the deputy director by post-degree education and the international cooperation of Physical technical school of biological and medical physics of MIPT Alexander Melerzanov, the decision on production of a domestic analog of medicine was made after positive experience of its application in Asia. It reduces the disease period from nine to four days at standard therapy, he told.

Final tests of medicine

On May 22, 2020 the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Himrar group read the name of medicine which as partners say, is capable to treat patients with COVID-19 coronavirus. Medicine will be on sale under the name of Avifavir. The corresponding applications are submitted to Federal Service for Intellectual Property.

Avifavir" — the first Russian medicine of direct anti-virus action which showed the efficiency in clinical trials and breaking mechanisms of reproduction of a coronavirus. Medicine is rather well studied as was in circulation in Japan since 2014 against severe forms of flu [there it is on sale under the name of Favipiravir — a comment of TAdviser], said in the statement of RDIF and Himrara.

The Russian medicine against COVID-19 received the name "Avifavir"

It is noted that according to the results of the first test phases medicine showed efficiency higher than 80%. At 68% of the patients taking the drug, temperature began to decrease for three days earlier, than at people in a check group. On average coronavirus relief of an organism happened in four days, in group of standard therapy —  for nine.

During the first investigation phase of 40 patients hospitalized with a coronavirus in a status of average weight received treatment by Avifavir, 20 patients from a check group received standard treatment. Based on the first stage of clinical trials medicine showed security, was not revealed new ghost effects, developers claim.

Ministry of Health Russia granted permission for transition to a final part of a research of medicine. It will be tested on group of 300 patients in 30 cities of Russia. RDIF and Himrar asked the Ministry of Health to accelerate its registration.

RDIF and Himrar closely cooperate as with the lead medical institutions, and the state regulating authorities. We calculate we will get approval on release of Avifavir in the near future — the head of RDIF  Kirill Dmitriyev whose words are cited in the press release of May 22, 2020 told.[4]

Information on medicine creation

On March 26, 2020 the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)  announced creation of the enterprise, joint with Himrar group, which will be engaged in creation of an analog of the medicine "Favipiravir" (it is developed by Fujifilm). The last in China is called an effective remedy of treatment of a coronavirus.

Within the efforts on fight against a virus made by RDIF together with the Government of the Russian Federation, the Russian and international partners we announce creation of the joint venture with the Himrar group which activity will allow to provide enough medicine for treatment of the infected persons in Russia and also to perform deliveries of Favipiravir to foreign markets — the CEO of RDIF Kirill Dmitry said, having added that the fund will continue search of the best technologies, the practician and effective medicines for fight against a virus further".

RDIF will invest hundreds of millions rubles in production of an analog of medicine of Fujifilm which is called effective for treatment of a coronavirus

The chairman of the board of directors of Himrar Group Andrey Ivashchenko says that this cooperation will allow is more complete to make use of the experience accumulated by group and opportunities for development and production of modern medicines both on anti-virus, and in other socially important directions. 

The innovative developments and technologies which are available for us have considerable potential not only in Russia, but also in foreign markets, and experience and possibilities of RDIF allow to expect creation really of the innovation Russian pharmotrasla in the future — Ivashchenko reported.

It is supposed that RDIF joint venture and Himrar Group there will begin deliveries of an analog Favipiravir in April, 2020. It is until the end of the year going to make 60 million packagings of medicine.

According to Kirill Dmitriyev, RDIF will invest "hundreds of millions rubles" in the project. Investments of Himrar are not called. When implementing the project on production of an analog of Favipiravir in Himrrar expect receiving state support.^[5]

Notes