Baltic Export, Education and Science, Good for Business, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Medicine

As Kalvins said in a press conference today, "Rigvir" has the potential to become a world-class medication and an actual competitor not only to the large pharmaceutical companies, but also to the 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 (EU) 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, informed, 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.