Russia designs scheme for compulsory licensing of imported drugs

Russia has come one step closer to the establishment of production of foreign drugs at the facilities of domestic enterprises, as the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has officially announced that it has completed the design of a scheme of compulsory licensing of imported vital drugs, according to recent statements of Igor Artemyev, head of the service.

According to the designed scheme, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent, the FAS will have an opportunity to submit a lawsuit against a particular foreign drugmaker to the Russian court, which may take a decision on the granting of a compulsory patent for the production of a drug within the country, after which the synthesis of a drug can begin in authorized Russian laboratories.

"In this case, the rights holder will receive fair compensation," Mr Artemyev said. He has also noted that such activities should be mainly funded from the federal budget.