The Ministry of Health of Russia approved changes to the instructions for medical use of the drug “Arbidol” on the activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the new coronavirus infection COVID-19. The data are published on the website of the State Register of Medicines.
In Russia, a preclinical study has been completed to study the antiviral activity of the drug against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which was conducted on the basis of the Moscow Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations named after M.P. Chumakov. A study in Vero cell culture showed that “Arbidol” (active ingredient Umifenovir) has specific activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results obtained fully correlate with the results of a study on the SARS-CoV coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which was conducted by the Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2005.
“Arbidol” refers to direct-acting antiviral drugs. The drug blocks the interaction of the surface protein of the coronavirus and the receptor on the surface of human cells.
In 2020, more than 90 scientific papers were published in peer-reviewed journals on the use of Umifenovir drugs in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. To date, the world has accumulated clinical data indicating the presence of antiviral activity of “Arbidol” in COVID-19. Studies of the drug have been conducted since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in China, Iran, Russia, as well as Australia and India.
In China, “Arbidol” is included in the national “Plan for the diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia”. The drug is also included in the recommendations of the Russian Ministry of Health for the prevention and treatment of mild forms of COVID-19 on an outpatient and inpatient basis.