The Russian Ministry of Health registered the Mir-19 coronavirus pharmaceuticals developed by the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA), the agency’s press service said.

The press service said,

“On December 22, 2021, the Russian Ministry of Health registered the Mir-19 pharmaceutical for the treatment of the novel coronavirus infection.

The drug works at the gene level, namely, selectively suppressing the activity of the vital RNA sequences of the virus, while not affecting the human genome, according to the FMBA.
The institute also noted that the medication, which is intended for inhalation use in a hospital setting, is “universal” against any coronavirus variants.

The clinical trials of the drug have proven its safety and efficacy, the FMBA underlined. The drug does not affect the human body, only targeting the virus.

Veronika Skvortsova, Head of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, said on air of the Rossiya 24 channel that the studies have shown that the reduction of viral load in patients with coronavirus is noticeable after the first use of the drug.

So far, Mir-19 has been registered for use in medical hospitals. Skvortsova said,

We are planning to continue research and post-registration studies, and we will conduct a special study according to the protocol for outpatients.

The institute has received a patent for the drug in April. Its name means “small interfering RNA”. The drug is intended to prevent and treat COVID-19 and is a nasal spray or inhalation liquid.

The drug is based on the use of microRNA, which blocks “those sites of the RNA virus that are responsible for copying the virus molecule”, explained Head Skvortsova. The drug prevents severe forms of COVID-19 and does not affect the human genome or immunity, she explained.