Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service may cancel registration of certain imported drugs

The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) may cancel registration of certain imported drugs, which are presented in the Russian market, due to the pricing policy, which is implemented by their producers, according to an official spokesman for the agency, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

Such a decision may be taken as a result of the recent assessment of prices for drugs which are purchased under the existing "Seven nosologies" drug procurement program (which involves purchases of the most expensive drugs) in Russia and abroad. According to the recently completed analysis by the FAS, minimum purchase prices for certain drugs in Russia are higher than in Western countries. This is contrary to the current Russian legislation, accordance to which the average prices for imported drugs in the Russian market should correspond to prices in Western markets.

This year, the Russian government allocated 43.6 billion roubles ($685 million) on the purchases of drugs under the "Seven nosologies” program. In 2015, the share of foreign drugmakers in public procurements under this program amounted to 65% in value terms and 83% by value.