In Siberia, new smallpox drug slated for launch next year

Scientists at Novosibirsk?s Vektor State Center of Virology and Biotechnology have unveiled plans to start production of their innovation smallpox drug one year from now

Scientists at Novosibirsk?s Vektor State Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Siberia have unveiled plans to start production of their innovation NIOKh-14 smallpox drug one year from now, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing a statement by Vektor CEO Alexander Sergeyev. ?Production is tentatively scheduled for next year; where it will be located has yet to be decided,? Mr. Sergeyev said. In animal tests, the Vektor scientists are not using monkeys as is standard across the world. According to the CEO, monkeys are too expensive for a large enough number of tests which are required to corroborate initial results. In addition, monkeys are administered smallpox specimens intravenously while in the world of humans, man contracts the disease through inhalation...