Siberian company tests medicine for countering Ebola

The medicine 'Reaferon-LIPINT' is to be urgently tested on Ebola-infected animals amid hopes it can be effective against the deadly infectious virus. The Russian pharmaceutical company 'Vector-Medica' is conducting trials to get 'reliable data on the drug's ability to inhibit viral replication in cell culture and animals'.

It is being monitored for its ability to prolong life and prevent death from Ebola. The tests will be completed in mid-January 2015. 

Reaferon-Lipint is antiviral drug developed by 'Vector-Medica' and based on interferon - a protein secreted by the human immune system in response to the entry into the body of any virus. First tests in 2008 proved that the drug can help to resist avian and swine flu. In 2013 it was successfully tested as the cure for tick borne encephalitis. 

'Vector-Medica', established in 1994, is a producer original drugs based on interferon and other innovative products. Work on the creation of new drugs is conducted in collaboration with scientists from  'Vector', one of the world's leading scientific centres for countering deadly diseases.

The centre is based in Koltsovo, near Novosibirsk.

Inna Nevzorova, marketing director of 'Vector-Medica', said: 'We are now testing our drug 'Reaferon-Lipint', to see if if it has the ability to counteract Ebola. The tests are ongoing. 'The drug was developed a few years ago, and was very successful in fighting flu'.