HIV-Infected Patients Will Not Be Left without Effective Therapy with Innovative Drugs
Elpida informs that the auctions for centralized procurement of innovative medicines for HIV treatment have been successfully completed. In particular, the auctions for supply of 5,116,140 capsules (or 170,538 packs) of ELPIDA® COMBI and 13,382,820 capsules (or 446,094 packs) of ELPIDA® were held on January 17 and February 19, respectively.
The purchase is carried out within the framework of the RF Government Resolution No. 1512 on organization of provision of antiviral medicines for persons infected with immunodeficiency virus, including those with hepatitis B and C viruses and other drugs. Patients are provided with the drugs at the expense of the federal budget within the framework of the program of state guarantees of free medical care for Russian citizens. All drugs are to be provided to patients free of charge.
The supply of ELPIDA® and ELPIDA® COMBI shall be completed not later than on April 15, 2024. All declared volumes of the drugs have already been manufactured and shipped to the auctions winner.
The full cycle of drug manufacturing is carried out in Russia, including the pharmaceutical ingredient synthesis, which allows to ensure the drugs supplies to medical institutions regardless of external factors and geopolitical situation.
ELPIDA® (elsulfavirine) is the first Russian drug for the treatment of HIV infection in the 21st century – a new generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) developed by ChemRar Group in partnership with F. Hoffman-La Roche (Switzerland) with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation within the Pharma2020 Program. Key advantages of Elpida® made it possible to use it as a first-line treatment for HIV infection as part of combination antiretroviral therapy. The drug is included in the list of vital and essential medicines (VED) and has been highly appreciated by both the medical and patient communities.
ELPIDA® COMBI, containing a fixed dose combination of Tenofovir + Elsulfavirine + Emtricitabine in 1 tablet to be taken one tablet per day, for the therapy of HIV-1 infection in adult patients, was launched in 2022. Simplified dosing regimen and improved patient adherence to therapy when administered as a combination drug is one of the most important features of ELPIDA® COMBI . It is extremely important, as many antiretroviral therapy regimens currently require patients to take several tablets daily for life, which complicates patients’ lives and leads to missed dosing or self-discontinuation of therapy. In its turn, such a situation poses risks of drug resistance and makes it difficult to suppress viral load during long-term therapy.
Therefore, it is recommended to use fixed-dose combination regimens such as ELPIDA® COMBI when prescribing first-line ART. Additional advantages of the drug are absence of cross-resistance, mutual antagonism and cross-toxicity3. In 2023, ELPIDA® COMBI was included in the list of VEDs.
- Basic Prescribing Information for ELPIDA® COMBI. Marketing Authorization: LP-008067 dated April 22, 2022
- Sax et al. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e31591. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031591. Epub 2012 Feb 24
- 2020 Clinical Recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation – HIV Infection in Adults