RDIF and ChemRar begin deliveries of Avifavir to Brazil through Axis Biotec

Moscow, July 14, 2020 – Chromis, a joint venture established by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, and ChemRar Group, announce the signing of license and collaboration agreement with Brazil’s Axis BioTec to deliver the first Russian anti-COVID drug Avifavir to Brazil.

Under the agreement Chromis will deliver at least 100,000 packs of Avifavir to Brazil until the end of 2020 with at least 200,000 packs set to be delivered in 2021.

Avifavir is the first Russian drug approved to treat coronavirus infection. It is also one of the first drugs in the world approved for treatment of COVID-19. The Russian Ministry of Health has included Avifavir in its latest seventh edition of the guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus infection COVID-19. Starting June 10, 2020, the drug has already been delivered to 50 Russian regions, helping to stop the spread of the virus and take control of the pandemic.

Avifavir has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials held in 35 medical centers across Russia involving 330 patients with confirmed COVID-19. The drug disrupts the reproduction mechanisms of the coronavirus, relieving symptoms and halving the treatment period compared to standard therapy.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said:

“RDIF and ChemRar have begun to fully explore Avifavir’s export potential, which is in high demand not only from partner states in CIS, but beyond. Latin America, and Brazil in particular, are now experiencing difficulties due to the spread of coronavirus, and our drug will allow for the effective treatment of patients and a reduced burden on medical facilities. We are ready to meet the growing foreign demand for Avifavir and are open to further international partnerships”.

Andrey Blinow, CEO of Chromis, said:

“The coronavirus crisis has shown the importance of a united global community. No country in the world has been able to cope with the epidemic on its own. We are very pleased that we were able to develop and bring to the market a drug that works effectively against COVID-19 in an unprecedentedly short period of time. Today, we have met the high domestic demand for the drug in Russia and are open to cooperating with partners around the world, in particular with Latin America, where the spread of coronavirus is sharply rising”.

Eduardo Cruz, Director of Silvestre Labs said:

“Axis BioTec, represented by Silvestre Labs, is honored to be the first pharmaceutical company in Brazil to access this product and to bring this drug to the country. We are excited that our doctors will soon have such a promising and effective drug which will help save thousands of lives, as we are currently the country with the second highest number of coronavirus deaths in the world”.

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Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia’s sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF’s management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB1.9 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia’s GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru

ChemRar Group unites R&D service and investment companies in the field of innovative pharmaceuticals for the development and commercialization of innovative medicines, diagnostics, preventive care and new treatments of life-threatening diseases in Russia and abroad. Further information can be found at https://en.chemrar.ru/

Silvestre Labs is a pharmaceutical, R&D oriented, aimed on translating research into innovative products in Brazil. Silvestre Labs is part of Axis Biotec Group, which also includes Cryopraxis, Brazil’s leader stem cell storage technology company. Silvestre Labs has launched products that became Brazil’s leaders in its segments, such as Dermazine and Dermacerium. Further information can be found at www.axisbiotec.com.br

For additional information contact:

Elena Surina

ChemRar Group

PR Director

Mobile +7 9262067871

E-mail: es@chemrar.ru