Russia Claims Development of COVID-19 Treatment Based on Malaria Medication

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] An agency under the Russian Ministry of Health claimed on the 28th (local time) that it has developed a treatment for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to TASS and other sources, the Biomedical Agency under the Russian Ministry of Health stated in a press release that "the Parmzashita Research Center of the Biomedical Agency has developed a COVID-19 treatment based on the malaria drug Mefloquine."

The Biomedical Agency explained, "This drug (Mefloquine) blocks the cytopathic effects of COVID-19 with high selectivity and inhibits viral replication, and Mefloquine's immunosuppressive effects suppress the activation of inflammatory responses caused by the virus."

It also claimed, "Adding macrolide antibiotics and benzylpenicillin not only prevents the emergence of secondary bacterial and viral symptoms but also increases the concentration of antiviral substances in plasma and lungs," and "this enables efficient treatment of COVID-19 patients with various symptoms."

The Biomedical Agency introduced that this treatment was developed considering the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and has been proposed to be included in the Russian Ministry of Health's recommendations for COVID-19 prevention, screening, and treatment methods.

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