Cancer drug shows potential

RIGA - The director of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and the inventor of the drug Mildronats, Ivars Kalvins, considers the Latvian-designed drug against oncological illnesses, Rigvir, that was included in the compensatory medication list in July, could be successfully exported in large quantities if the necessary clinical research was carried out, reports news agency LETA.

As Kalvins said in a press conference on July 28, Rigvir has the potential to become a world-class medication and an actual competitor not only to the large pharmaceutical companies, but also to existing cancer treatment therapies.
He thinks that the export of Rigvir could potentially amount to billions of lats. However, in order to export the medication to European Union countries, it is necessary to carry out clinical research in every country where the product is to be sold, and that requires major funding.

The director explained that the EU would disburse this clinical research if Latvia asked to designate this medication with a prescribed category, but in this case the government should have to invest funds for research in Latvia. Kalvins added that this additional research is necessary, because there are not many patients in Latvia.
“But if the government does not assign money for research, then at least this drug is included in the compensatory medication list,” said Kalvins.

The leading researcher of the Latvian Biomedical Research and Studies Center, Dace Pjanova, said that the reports on virotherapy and Rigvir by Latvian representatives at two scientific conferences in Munich and Moscow in July were well received by scientists and oncologists.
“Latvia has something to show to the world,” said Pjanova, adding that the world is astonished that such a small country as Latvia has medication against melanoma.