Russia's Vector Research Centre Finds More Than 15 Promising Compounds for COVID-19 Drug

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector has discovered more than 15 compounds with pronounced antiviral activity, which are promising for the creation of drugs for the treatment of the coronavirus infection, Russian public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said.

"To date, the antiviral properties of more than 500 candidate therapeutic agents have been evaluated. The work is carried out in several stages, including the study of properties in experiments in vitro (on cell cultures) and in vivo (on laboratory animals). More than 15 compounds have been found that have a pronounced antiviral activity and promising for the creation of drugs against COVID-19," it said.

In the middle of October, Russia registered its second coronavirus vaccine, EpiVacCorona, which was developed by the Vector research centre. 

On 11 August, the country registered the world's first COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, it was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute with support from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).