Merck KGaA starts production of diabetes drug in Russia

German life sciences and pharma company Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) has officially launched production of its drugs for the treatment of diabetes at the facilities of its Russian partner Nanolek in the Kirov region.

Under the terms of the agreement, the partners plans to focus on the full-cycle production of Glyukofazh (Glucophage; metformin), which is a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The annual volume of production will be 400 million tablets, that will allow to fully meet Russia’s needs in the drug.

To date, investments in the project amount to 10 million euros ($10.8 million) and there is a possibility that they will significantly increase during the next several years, as part of Merck’s plans to establish production of drugs for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure in the Kirov region (The Pharma Letter October 22, 2015).