Clinical trials on a drug treating multiple sclerosis, the “Ronbetal”, trademark for recombinant human interferon-beta (rhIFN-b), started on January 1, 2008, at the leading neurological hospital of the Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy. Ronbetal, developed within the frame of an ISTC project, is the first Russian made medical preparation to be used against multiple sclerosis and it is expected to be 40% less expensive than its foreign analogues. Currently the life long treatment costs $20,000-30,000 per year for approximately 120,000-150,000 patients registered in Russia.

The technology for its GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standard has been developed under the project as well.

A new sensor to analyze ozone was validated during an expedition from 18 July to 4 August on the mobile observatory "TROIKA-12" (ISTC Project #3288). The railroad wagon turned into a laboratory, followed the route Moscow-Vladivostok-Moscow. The tests have proven that the measurements matched the data obtained by the American gas analyzer DASIBI 1008-AH but the developed sensor is more portable and has a greater sensitivity and speed.

The device will find wide applications such as: at atmospheric monitoring stations, in manufacturing using ozone, in medicine, water purifying technologies, food-processing industry etc.

For more information about the project: