Lack of active ingredients poses serious threat to Russian pharma sector

The existing interruptions in the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to Russia and lack of their production within the country currently remains one of the major reasons for a shortage of various drugs in the local market, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

Although more than half of drugs sold in Russia are domestic, they are mainly made up from imported raw materials. It is still difficult to organize local production of active ingredients in Russia, as local pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to do this, preferring to purchase abroad.

According to data of the Russian analyst agency RNC Pharma, currently about 80%-85% of Russian drugs are made from imported active ingredients, while the interruptions in their supply has resulted in the disappearance of these drugs from the market.