An international research group consisting of 19 scientists from Germany, the U.K., Italy, the United States and Ukraine has published the results of a study of the effectiveness of the drug Amizon (active compound enisamium iodide) in the treatment of COVID-19 disease. The trials were carried out in-vitro (in laboratory). Its results are published on the Medrxiv website, which belongs to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (the United States) and it is the world’s main resource providing open access to the results of research on COVID-19.
In their article, scientists from Institute of Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University described for the first time the antiviral effect of Amizon against SARS-CoV-2. The co-authors of the article, scientists from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, have revealed the mechanism of action of the drug, which consists in inhibiting the viral RNA polymerase, under the influence of which the virus multiplies.
The results of the study made it possible to start the third stage of clinical trials of the drug in Ukraine. In May 2020, a multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of Amizon Max was launched. In the course of the study, the use of Amizon was combined with basic treatment of patients with moderate severity of COVID-19 infection.
The trials were carried out in parallel in several clinics in different cities of Ukraine. Specialists from Germany were involved in the study.
Intermediate results of the third stage of clinical trials of Amizon demonstrated its effectiveness in patients requiring non-invasive oxygen support (without the use of a ventilator). In particular, at this stage of the study, Amizon showed itself as a drug that accelerates the onset of a significant improvement in the condition of patients on average up to three days.
At the same time, to confirm or refute the positive trend, an additional recruitment of patients is currently being carried out to continue clinical trials. Final results are expected at the end of February.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 2020 reduced investments in Ukraine to EUR 812 million in 34 projects compared to 2019, when the Bank invested 51 projects for EUR 1.1 billion.
“In terms of annual investment, Ukraine ranked third among the Bank’s countries of operation after Turkey and Egypt,” the EBRD said in a press release.
According to it, new investments included support for projects to improve corporate governance (as a pilot transformation program for Ukravtodor), as well as a project for transforming Ukrposhta, improving transport infrastructure in Ukrainian cities, introducing energy efficient technologies in heavy industry, etc.
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 21/01/21
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of January 21
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
Electricity consumption in Ukraine, taking into account in-process losses in power grids, decreased 2.6% in 2020 compared to 2019, to 146.394 billion kWh, the Ministry of Energy has told Interfax-Ukraine.
Excluding in-process losses electricity consumption in 2020 fell by 2.1%, to 117.656 billion kWh.
The country’s industry, excluding in-process losses, reduced electricity consumption by 3.8%, to 49.196 billion kWh. In particular, metallurgical industry consumed 27.105 billion kWh (5.5% less compared to 2019), fuel industry some 3.225 billion kWh (5% less), machine building industry some 3.126 billion kWh (14.7% less), chemical and petrochemical some 4.144 billion (10.6% more), food and processing some 4.34 billion kWh (3.3% less), construction some 2.332 billion kWh (3% more), others some 4.924 billion kWh (0.5% more).
In addition, agricultural enterprises consumed 3.814 billion kWh (2.8% more), transport some 5.719 billion kWh (13.4% less), developers some 949.8 million kWh (1.8% less).
In 2020 the country’s population consumed 36.436 billion kWh (3.4% more), households some 14.179 billion kWh (5.9% less) and other non-industrial consumers some 7.363 billion kWh (1.6% less).
The share of industry in total electricity consumption in 2020 fell from 42.6% to 41.8%, while the share of the population grew to 31% from 29.3%.
In December 2020, electricity consumption, taking into account in-process losses, decreased 7.3% compared to 2019, to 15.043 billion kWh, and excluding in-process losses it fell by 4.9%, to 11.435 billion kWh.
TAS Insurance Group (Kyiv) in the last month of 2020 paid out UAH 95.23 million of compensation under concluded insurance contracts, which is 29.4% more than in December of the year before last, according to the insurer’s website.
More than a third of all payments for the reporting month (39.18%) fell on OSAGO – UAH 37.31 million, which is 58.6% higher than the corresponding figure for the same period in 2019.
The second place in the December portfolio of the company’s payments with a share of 26.76% is occupied by KASKO: under such insurance contracts, UAH 25.48 million was reimbursed, which is 18.2% more than in December 2019.
Payments under voluntary medical insurance contracts increased even more – by 60.6% – under which UAH 17.61 million was reimbursed during the last month of 2020, which is 18.49% of the insurer’s total payments for the reporting period.
As for Green Card policies, TAS paid UAH 12.98 million in January, which is 13.63% of the total amount of the insurer’s indemnities for the month.
Under other insurance contracts in December last year, the company paid UAH 1.85 million in compensation.
