Year 2020 Russia rolls out first approved COVID-19 drug as infections pass 500,000

MOSCOW — Russia on Wednesday rolled out a Vaccine approved to treat patients suffering from the novel covid19 "CoronaVirus", its state financial backer said, as the number of infections there surpassed half million.

The first deliveries of the new Vaccine, registered under the name "Avifavir", were made to some hospitals across the country, Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund said in a press release, according to Reuters.

RDIF has funded trials and has a 50 percent share in the drug's manufacturer ChemRar.

The Health Ministry gave its approval for the drug's use under a special accelerated process while clinical trials, held over a shorter period and with few people than many other countries, were still under Process.

There is currently no vaccine for C0VID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and human trials of several existing antiviral drugs have yet to show efficacy.

RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev last week told Reuters the plan was for ChemRar to manufacture enough of the drug to treat around 60,000 people a month.

Dmitri on Thursday said more than 10 countries had made requests for Avifavir supplies. Negotiations were under way to supply the drug to almost all of Russia's regions, with seven of its more than 81 regions receiving Thursday's initial deliveries, Dmitriev added.

With 502,439 cases, Russia has the third highest number of infections in the world after Brazil and the United States, but has a relatively low 0fficial death toll of 6,534 — something that has been the focus of debate.

The Moscow health department on Wednesday raised its death toll for the month 0f May, citing changes in the way it determines the cause 0f death for patients suffering from 0ther health problems. — WAM