They said that the studies evaluated the antiviral activity of the drug Mefloquine, which is recommended for the treatment of a new virus.
“It has been proven that Mefloquine completely blocked the development of the cytopathic effect of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (pathogen COVID-19) in cell culture at a concentration of 2 μg / l,” said Veronika Skvortsova, head of the agency.
According to her, a similar concentration in blood plasma is achieved after taking the drug in therapeutic doses, which are allowed for use in humans.
Previously, the FMBA presented a test system for the detection of coronavirus within 15-20 minutes.