NIOKh-14 (monkeypox drug)

2022: Product Development

In August 2022, the Vector Scientific Center for Virology and Biotechnology Rospotrebnadzor filed Ministry of Health RUSSIAN FEDERATION an application for registration of the first Russian drug against monkey smallpox. We are talking about the drug "NIOH-14."

According to the state register of medicines of the Ministry of Health, "NIOKh-14" is produced in capsules of 200 mg each. The drug has already successfully passed all stages of preclinical trials, as well as the first phase of clinical trials in volunteers.

In July 2022, Sergei Shchelkunov, chief researcher at the Vector Genomic Research Department, shared details about the new drug against smallpox. He noted that the NIOKh-14 will be effective against any type of smallpox, including monkeypox. According to him, the drug affects orthopoxviruses directly, preventing the appearance of viral parts outside infected cells, suppressing the development of infection.

the mechanism of action of the drug consists in blocking the formation of the virus shell from the components of the infected cell (host cell), which makes it possible to stop the release of the virus and its further spread in the body. Taking the drug is necessary from the first day of detection of the disease.

The drug was developed by scientists of the Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry (NIOH) named after N.N. Vorozhtsova together with specialists from the center "Vector." As TASS points out, before the "NIOKh-14" in Russia did not produce chemical preparations for the emergency prevention and treatment of smallpox and other orthopoxviral diseases of humans.

By August 9, 2022, there is no registered innovative drug in the world for the prevention and treatment of monkey smallpox. In the UK, Tpoxx (tecovirimat) from the American company SIGA Technologies, which was previously used for common smallpox, was approved for its treatment on July 8, 2022.^[1]

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