Russia is planning to start clinical trials within two weeks on a vaccine to combat the coronavirus, the health minister reported on Saturday.

Authorities approved the country's first anti-COVID-19 drug. Officials revealed that Russian researchers are working on almost 50 different vaccine projects.

"The tests are underway and we plan to start clinical trials in the next two weeks," Health Minister Mikhail Murashko was quoted by the local news agency.

The Health Ministry has approved Avifavir for coronavirus treatment, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). It was developed on the basis of a drug known generically as favipiravir.

Volunteers have already been selected to participate in the study. 

Russia has the world’s third-highest toll of coronavirus infections after the United States and Brazil, and Kremlin officials have said the nation’s researchers are working on almost 50 different vaccine projects.

Russia has reported 405,843 total number of coronavirus cases and the death toll rises to 4,693 till Sunday, May 31, 2020.