Immunologist Chepurnov spoke about the development in Russia of a drug against COVID-19 based on RNA 
Immunologist Alexander Chepurnov named two technologies for the development of drugs for coronavirus that can interrupt the development of infection in the early stages. In particular, protease inhibitors are being tested in the United States and have shown themselves to be quite effective. The second technology – a preparation based on small interfering RNAs – is being investigated in Russia. Chepurnov called it the newest and said in an interview with Lenta.ru that there is no data on its effectiveness yet.
Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Health Mikhail Murashko said that the development of a domestic drug that could interrupt development is nearing completion in Russia coronavirus. According to him, no country in the world has a cure for coronavirus. The Minister stressed that a drug developed in Russia will be able to interrupt the course of COVID-19 at the initial stage of infection.
Two progressive technologies
Chepurnov said that today the most effective development in terms of drugs that can interrupt the development of coronavirus is the technology of protease inhibitors. He noted that a similar method of treatment was used in the treatment of hepatitis C, where it showed itself well.
“When a virus enters a cell and begins to build its proteins with it, it builds them into a continuous ribbon. After that, proteases, which in most cases are recorded in his genome, are cut into specific correct proteins, from which viruses are then assembled. If you inhibit, that is, stop these proteases, then this tape will remain a tape, and new virions will not be formed from anything. This approach seems to be the most sensible today, it has shown itself well, “the immunologist explained.
The United States had previously announced the development of a drug based on the technology, Chepurnov said. According to him, the drug has already passed the second and third stages of development.
The second technology, the development of which, as it seems to the scientist, can give good results, is the development of a drug based on small interfering RNAs. “This is another technology. Interfering RNA, that is, small sections of RNA that intercede on the messenger RNA of the coronavirus itself, block its reading, thus paralyzing the reproduction of the virus, “Chepurnov said.
He said that the development of this type was previously reported by ex -Minister of Healthcare of Russia Veronika Skvortsova. The technology based on small interfering RNAs was previously used only in research works and so far it is not possible to talk about its effectiveness, the immunologist summed up. “No one has yet taken this path, except Skvortsova. We will see what happens in practice, ”he said.
On November 12, the first domestic drug for the treatment of coronavirus was registered in Russia – it is called Areplivir; by the end of the year, the drug will already be delivered to hospitals. The developer company Promomed said that they were the first to create an injectable form of farapiravir, despite the fact that the powder does not dissolve in water.