OREANDA-NEWS  In Russia, 13 companies have received permission to conduct clinical trials of medicines for the treatment of hepatitis C, said the head of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Mikhail Murashko.

"An important element is the development and registration of own medicines (for the treatment of hepatitis C - IF). Today, 13 companies have received permission to conduct clinical trials. Two companies are currently undergoing examination, and we are waiting for the decision of the Council of the ethics committee to issue a permit for clinical trials," Murashko said at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the minister, the funding system was also divided, ungrouped for each case, "which allowed this year to increase by 35% the number of patients who received this type of treatment (against hepatitis C - IF)."

Murashko said that for the treatment of children with this disease, a decision was made to finance it within the funds of the Circle of Good Foundation. This year, all applications from the regions of the country have been collected, drugs for all children have been purchased. This year they are receiving drug therapy to eliminate the hepatitis C virus.

The head of the Ministry of Health also noted that the issue of reducing the prices of drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C was worked out. "The companies have confirmed that 20-30% are ready to discount within the framework of centralization and increasing the volume of purchases," he added.

Earlier, the Kommersant newspaper reported that the American pharmaceutical manufacturer MSD will stop supplying Zepatir to Russia - one of the most popular drugs against hepatitis C.