For the development of an innovative drug for HIV treatment, Irina Tyrnova was awarded the institutional awards of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation

The Award Ceremony for the domestic pharmaceutical and medical industry institutional awards of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation was held at the opening ceremony of the Russian Health Care Week 2017 on December 4, 2017. Irina Tyrnova, who has headed Viriom since its founding in 2009, and under whose supervision ELPIDA® has been through the entire cycle of stydies, development and registration, received an official message of thanks from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation “For a great contribution to the development of pharmaceutical and medical industry, many years of conscientious work”.

ELPIDA® (elsulfavirin) is the first original drug in the 21st century for HIV treatment with a full production cycle in Russia. This new generation product is the best in nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor class (NNRTI); it has proved its efficacy and safety in clinical trials and is already used in a number of specialized medical institutions in the country.

“I would like to thank the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation first, for believing in us at the very beginning and provision of significant support to the project within the Federal Program “Pharma-2020”, without which we would not have been able to achieve such results. And, of course, I would like to say a big thank you to all our professional team of developers, researchers, clinicians of ChemRar Group, who all these years worked on the development of this necessary and important product not only for Viriom, but for our entire country. This award is a high assessment of our joint work, I’m definitely proud to receive it today, and I believe that ELPIDA® has a great future both in Russia and abroad”, said Irina Tyrnova.

“Developing our own innovative products that we can actively promote on other markets is something that we should strive for. If we register several products in Russia with such potential each year, it will be a completely different level of pharmaceutical industry development in the country”, said Sergey Tsyb, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

In the framework of the Russian Health Care Week the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation has been hosting the PharmMedProm exhibition for several years, where the participants demonstrate the latest achievements of the domestic PharmMed industry. The exhibition was traditionally visited by an official delegation of representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, headed by S. Tsyb, theDeputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, S. Kraev — Deputy Minister of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, and O. Bochkarev, The Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation.

ChemRar Group presented their innovative developments, as well as registered innovative and import-substituting drugs, whose full production cycle including the active substance was located in Russia, e.g. ELPIDA® for HIV treatment, NORMACOR® — an innovative cardioplegic solution for open-heart surgery, SATRx® for treatment of type 2 diabetes, NESCLER®— the first Russian oral medication for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, as well as several drugs for serious cancer treatment, including the development of quisinostat by ChemRar, an innovative drug for solid tumor treatment, etc.

In the framework of the Forum’s business program Elena Yakubova, the new CEO of Viriom, spoke about innovations in HIV treatment in Russia and the development stages and studies of the drug that the company dedicated 8 years to:

• In 2009 — An agreement with F. Hoffman-La Roche (Switzerland) was signed for the transfer to Viriom of the rights for new innovative ARV drug development.
• In 2010 — The Russian Presidential Commission for Modernization and Technological Development of Russia’s Economy approved the project of ELPIDA® development.
• In 2011 — The Roche-Viriom technology transfer was made and pre-clinical and clinical trials initiated with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation within the Federal Targeted Program “Development of Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry of the Russian Federation up to 2020 and Beyond” (“Pharma-2020”).
• In 2017 — The registration and launch of ELPIDA® on the Russian market.

Currently, Viriom, together with the Skolkovo Foundation, is developing a combination of fixed doses (elsulfavirin/tenofovir/emtricitabine), with a frequency of 1 tablet daily, as well as a sustained-release injectable formulation — one injection per 3 months that will help to significantly improve the compliance and quality of life of HIV-infected patients.

About ChemRar Group

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 for life-threatening diseases in Russia and abroad. www.en.chemrar.ru

Viriom is a company of ChemRar High-Tech Center, involved in the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of HIV, hepatitis C, influenza and other infection. The Viriom research program is held in Russia (preclinical studies are conducted on the facilities of key partner — CDRI (Chemical Diversity Research Institute), clinical trials are held in the leading centers, with the support of IPHARMA LLC) and abroad within the framework of international partnerships. Viriom’s partners include such companies as Hoffmann-La Roche (Switzerland), Fox Chase Oncology Center (USA), The Scripps Research Institute(USA), Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and other. www.viriom.ru