Iran to Export Multiple Sclerosis Drug to Armenia, Russia, Syria

TEHRAN (FNA)–Iran plans to start exports of its domestically produced Multiple Sclerosis (MS) medication to Syria, Armenia and Russia by next month, the manager Iran’s MS drug manufacturing company said on Saturday.

“The Iranian MS drug has been registered in Russia, Armenia and Syria at present and we have received a number of requests for its exports as well,” Haleh Hamedifar was quoted by the Farse News Agency as saying. “The first cargo of this medication, which is the first Iranian drug introduced internationally, will be exported to these countries by the next month.”

Hamedifar also said that the Iranian authorities are now registering the Iran-made MS drug in several other countries.

Iran began production of the drug three years ago, according to Hamedifar, who added that the country’s production capacity is ten times more than the country’s needs and Iran has, thus, decided to expand exports of the drug to other Middle Eastern countries.

The drug’s active ingredient, Interferon beta 1 (generically known as Ziferon), is mainly injected subcutaneously and has antiviral and immunomodulating properties. The drug is mainly used in the management of multiple sclerosis, although its mode of action is unclear.

Iran has also introduced two other domestically produced MS drugs in recent years: Resigene (interferon beta 1a) and Cinnovex.

The Center for Pharmaceutical Products in Iran has already produced five biotechnological drugs, making Ziferon the sixth medication produced by the company.