The Ministry of Health of Russia has registered Ivlizi, Russia’s first original drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, which was developed by Biocad. The company has invested more than 660 million rubles in the development and research for the creation of the drug.
“The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has registered the first Russian original drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, developed by Biocad’s scientists. The drug was given the trade name Ivlizi (INN divozilimab). The release of the domestic original drug can significantly improve the effectiveness of therapy and the quality of life of patients,” the report says.
Divozilimab is able to bind the CD20 antigen on the surface of white blood cells, which play a key role in nerve tissue damage in multiple sclerosis, but it does not suppress the body’s ability to restore them or the patient’s immunity.
Preclinical trials and the first and second phases clinical trials of divozilimab were funded at the expense of the company’s own resourses and state support. In particular, in 2019 and 2020, Biocad received subsidies from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia in the amount of 16.3 million rubles. The company’s own investments in the development and research of Ivlizi amounted to more than 660 million rubles, Biocad added.
Earlier it became known that the Center for Clinical Study of Medicines of Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University has launched the second phase of clinical trials of Biocad’s BCD-180, a drug designed to alleviate the condition of patients with spondylitis deformans.
