Russia's R-Pharm to start expansion into US pharma market

Following the recent deal with the US pharma major Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) to purchase US rights to its breast cancer drug Ixempra (ixabepilone; The Pharma Letter August 18), R-Pharm, one of Russia’s largest pharmaceutical companies, will start the production and distribution of the drug in the USA.

Ixempra is used to treat metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer. According to Vasily Ignatieff, general director of R-Pharm, at present global sales of Ixempra are relatively small, not exceeding $50 million, the majority of which (90%) is accounted for by the US market. The drug is manufactured under the license at the facilities of several foreign plants of Bristol-Myers.

The value of the deal was not disclosed at the time of the signing, however, according to some sources close to R-Pharm, it is in the range of $100-$150 million, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.