Russia is set to begin treatments for COVID-19 patients in the country using its first approved drug, Avifavir, to help trim down active cases and help the country’s economy recover as soon as possible.
Beginning June 11, hospitals in Russia could soon roll out providing Avifavir to their COVID-19 patients. Reports from Reuters furthered that the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) sovereign wealth fund confirms that the company that manufactured the drug could treat an estimate of 60,000 individuals monthly.
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Avifavir, otherwise known in its generic name favipiravir, was initially developed by a Japanese company during the late 1990s before it was bought by Fujifilm as it moved into healthcare.
RDIF health Kirill Dmitriev stated that Russian scientists had modified and enhanced the drug to combat COVID-19, and furthered that they would share details of the drug modifications in two weeks’ time.
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Dmitriev also revealed that over 330 clinical trials for Avifavir had been administered, and has showed great promise as many individuals have recovered from the virus in just four days.
