Global drugmakers complain over violations of patent rights in Russia

Multinational drugmakers operating in Russia have filed a complaint with the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) against the existing practice of purchasing generics of original drugs with active patents during state tenders in Russia, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

According to the producers, at least in November of 2017 nine tenders for the purchase of generics, based on the active substances of sunitinib (trade name Sutent) and dasatinib (trade name Sprycel), both antitumor agents, patents on which are owned by Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), for state needs were conducted in Moscow and some other regions of Russia. The total amount of the contracts signed at that period of time amounted to 218 million roubles ($3.8 million).

Producers believe such a problem has become typical for Russia. Earlier, global drugmakers, operating in the Russian market had already applied to the FAS with a request to pay attention to the fact of registration of generics during the period of validity of patents for original drugs.