Russia gives a final approval to first coronavirus vaccine for sale in pharmacies

Russia has given approval to  R-Pharm’s Coronavir treatment for the infected patients with mild to moderate coronavirus infection and the antiviral drug could be available to pharmacies in the country as soon as next week, the said on Friday.

Coronavir’s prescription drug approval follows the endorsing for another Russian COVID-19 drug. The drug is based on favipiravir, which was developed in Japan and is widely used there as the basis for viral treatments.

Meanwhile, the announcement from R-Pharm is another signal Russia is making the hard efforts to take a global lead in the race against the virus.

The company is already exporting its COVID-19 tests and has clinched several international deals for supplies of its Sputnik-V vaccine.

R-Pharm said it received approval for Coronavir after Phase III clinical trials involving 168 patients with the highly contagious infection.

The drug was first approved for in-hospital use to treat the infection  in July, a government register showed.