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Coronavirus pandemic

Russia’s health watchdog working to speed up launch of Avifavir drug

This is the first Russian drug based on Favipiravir that has been used in Japan since 2014 to treat severe cases of influenza

© Sergei Karpukhin/TASS

MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. Russia’s health watchdog (Roszdravnadzor) together with pharmaceutical companies is working on accelerating the launch of Avifavir (international nonproprietary name — Favipiravir), Russia-produced drug to treat coronavirus infection, watchdog head Alla Samoilova said Tuesday.

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Russia may start export of Avifavir anti-coronavirus drug

"Currently, Roszdravnadzor is in contact with producers to speed up the product launch and clinical application of the newly licensed medicine. In particular, I am talking about Avifavir which was registered under a streamlined procedure. It proved its effectiveness in fighting coronavirus in other countries. We hope that this drug will be included in clinical protocols and will be used to treat our patients, demonstrating significant clinical effect," she said.

Avifavir was produced by a joint enterprise of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and ChemRar pharmaceutical company. This is the first Russian drug based on Favipiravir that has been used in Japan since 2014 to treat severe cases of influenza. The first stage of clinical trials (10 days) showed that Avifavir was safe to use and not leading to any side effects that were not identified before. The effectiveness of the drug is assessed to be over 80%, which is a criterion to classify medication as highly anti-viral active. The final clinical trial with 330 patients was greenlighted by the Russian Health Ministry on May 21.

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Armenia purchasing only defensive weapons — PM

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Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Azerbaijanian leader says reaching peace with Armenia by November 'quite realistic'

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Russia ready to offer access to Asian markets to partners in BAM upgrade — Putin

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Rosatom denies reports about flooding of uranium deposit wells in Kurgan region

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Baku cannot turn blind eye to France, India, Greece arming Armenia — President Aliyev

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Gagauzian leader on unity of Moldova’s opposition, ability to watch Russian TV channels

Yevgenia Gutsul underlined that Gagauzia plans to start exporting products to Russia in the near future

Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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Romanian rescuers find Ukrainian deserters who spent four days in mountains

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Russia to incorporate US nuke scenario in Poland in its military planning — diplomat

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Beijing condemns US hypocrisy around Ukraine conflict

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin reiterated that China "is not an instigator or a party to the Ukrainian crisis and has never fanned the flames of the conflict, not to mention, used the situation for its own purposes"

US expert says more ATACMS won't alter battlefield dynamics in Ukraine

"There is no magic weapon, there is no series of weapons that could change this" situation for the Ukrainian armed forces, Scott Ritter said

Russian presidential envoy visits Afghanistan to discuss political cooperation

Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov met with Deputy Prime Minister for political issues Abdul Kabir, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani

Press review: GOP tussles over Ukraine bill and Putin, Aliyev talk partnership

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, April 23rd

Duda's Kaliningrad nuke rhetoric political stunt — Russian senator

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Ukraine 'not in a position to win' against Russia — Spanish reserve colonel

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International meeting of security representatives opening in St. Petersburg

Moreover, discussions within two theme-based roundtables will be held

Moscow Zoo delegation arrives in North Korean capital — media

Russia and North Korea have intensified bilateral exchanges since late 2023

NATO has no plans to deploy nuclear forces in Poland — Stoltenberg

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Top Russian security official praises Republika Srpska’s principled position on Ukraine

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Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

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Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

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Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

According to the law enforcement, the search for the fourth crew member is ongoing

South Korea threatens to end North Korean 'regime' in case it uses nuclear weapons

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West battlegroup destroys two Ukrainian drones, hit over 170 Ukrainian army’s facilities

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