The production of the first Russian injectable drug for the treatment of COVID-19, Areplivir, will begin in December 2021.

RIA Novosti was told about this by a representative of the company - manufacturer of the drug "Promomed".

Earlier, the press service of the company explained that "Areplivir" in liquid form is better than a similar drug in tablets, penetrates cells, gives a longer effect and is safer.

"The injectable form of the drug is characterized by 100% bioavailability and more intense penetration and distribution in cells, a longer retention of therapeutic concentration in tissues, as well as an improved safety profile," the source said.

The manufacturer of the drug emphasizes that the drug will first be provided to Russia, and then they will begin to supply it for export.

The manufacturer of the drug announced the registration of the injectable version of Areplivir (international non-proprietary name - favipiravir) on Friday, November 12.

The company noted that with its development, Promomed responded to the urgent need of domestic healthcare for hospital therapy for COVID-19.

As noted in the company, its specialists were the first in the world to create an injectable form of favipiravir, despite the fact that the substance is an insoluble powder.

Areplivir tablets were approved by the Russian Ministry of Health on June 23, 2020.

The drug is included in the methodological recommendations of the Ministry of Health for the treatment of coronavirus infection.

Against the background of news about the registration and the imminent start of production of the injectable form of the drug, Promomed also admitted that an inhaled version of the drug could be created in the future.

The head of the company, Peter Bely, in a conversation with RIA Novosti, recalled that a distinctive feature of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is its ability to "settle" in the lungs, and not in the upper respiratory tract, as it happens with other coronaviruses.

“In this sense, the local delivery of medicinal objects, not only antiviral, but also a cocktail of drugs, is seen as a very promising direction for the treatment of coronavirus and for the prevention of severe pulmonary consequences,” Bely said.

Development of drugs for COVID-19 in Russia

We add that the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA of Russia) is awaiting registration of the MIR 19 drug for the treatment of coronavirus by the end of 2021.

The drug developers previously told RT that MIR 19 is an antiviral agent that acts directly on SARS-CoV-2.

As the director of the Institute of Immunology of the FMBA, Musa Khaitov, explained in an interview with RT, the active component of the drug is small interfering RNA.

According to him, this RNA targets a specific part of the virus genome, which, after interaction, undergoes modifications and thus is effectively removed from the infected cell.

In turn, the director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Alexander Gintsburg, recently announced that after the New Year holidays in Russia, clinical trials of a drug for the treatment of COVID-19 based on monoclonal antibodies will begin.

According to him, preclinical tests are now underway.

Gunzburg explained that, first of all, the drug will be intended for the treatment of people at risk, which include pregnant women, diabetics and people with obesity.

As part of clinical trials, scientists will find out at what time of the disease the drug is most effective.

“I think that not only in the early stages, it is possible that on the fourth or sixth day too.

But this task will already be for clinical trials - to see until what day it makes sense to introduce them, ”Gunzburg explained in a comment to Interfax.

He also said that a drug is being developed in Russia that purposefully suppresses the multiplication of coronavirus.

At the same time, he noted that the drug will not be created in the coming months, more time is needed.

Vladimir Putin spoke about the work of specialists in the creation of drugs for COVID-19 in early November.

The President mentioned this during a meeting with the leadership of the Defense Ministry and defense industry enterprises.

“Now drugs are being developed and, in principle, in the near future, I am sure, will already be used - today I also spoke with my colleagues about this, with those who are engaged in this,” the president said.

At the same time, the head of state stressed that "anyway, the most universal and best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated."

According to the latest data from the operational headquarters to combat the spread of COVID-19, as of November 12, the level of collective immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Russia was 49%.

More than 63.1 million people were vaccinated with the first component, almost 58 million Russians were fully vaccinated against coronavirus.