JSC Grindeks, the manufacturer of Mildronate® (meldonium), has submitted an open letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). According to the JSC Grindeks, WADA has not provided scientific proof or evidence justifying the inclusion of meldonium in the 2016 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.
Moscow, “Interfax”, 18.04.2016. At the press conference in Moscow, Chairman of the Board of JSC Grindeks Juris Bundulis announced that the explanations of the World Anti-Doping Agency on Mildronate® lacked sufficient evidence to justify its inclusion in 2016 Prohibited List.
According to the Chairman of the Board of JSC Grindeks, ’there is no reason to include Mildronate® (meldonium) in the Prohibited List. Mildronate® is, first of all, high-quality, safe and effective medicine, which is widely used in clinical practice in many countries worldwide. JSC Grindeks is the manufacturer of the original substance, using its own technology. The full production cycle distinguishes our product from all other meldonium-containing products. Mildronate® is not a doping, which enhances athletic performance, it has no actual or potential threat to the health of athletes. In no way, therapeutic use of meldonium contradicts the spirit of sport. The widespread use of Mildronate®, and its importance for health maintenance and treatment of cardiovascular and neurological diseases serves as a proof of its efficacy and safety.’
According to the inventor of meldonium, academician Ivars Kalvinsh, ‘the decision of WADA seems even stranger, provided that the drug itself does not meet any of the doping criteria defined by WADA. Its efficacy has been confirmed in preclinical and clinical studies, performed for over 30 years by researchers from different countries according to international research standards.’
At the press conference, the opinion on the efficacy and safety of Mildronate® and its clinical use in cardiology and neurology was also expressed by Dr. med., Professor Irina Chukaeva, (Head of Department of Ambulatory Therapy, Pirogov Russian National Medical Research University); Dr.med., Professor Arkady Vertkin (Head of Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Emergency Medicine, Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry); Dr.med., Professor, Academician of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation Anatoly Fedin (Head of Department of Neurology, Pirogov Russian National Medical Research University) and Cand.med., Anastasia Mihailova (Docent of Sports Medicine Department, Master of Sport of the USSR).
