USA's PhRMA urges support for international standards in Russian medicines law

An amended version of the draft Federal Law "On Circulation of Medicines" was recently placed on the web site of the Russian Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development and has attracted much attention and criticism. Many suggestions were made to improve the initial Draft Law so as to ensure the effective functioning of the Russian pharmaceutical market, and this has now passed its first reading in the Duma, the nation's Parliament. Russia is one of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries which is currently attracting a great deal of attention from the pharmaceutical industry.

As Russia embarks on legislative reforms to strengthen pharmaceutical regulation, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's (PhRMA) president of International Affairs Christopher Singer called on that country's government to use the opportunity to align with international standards and obligations on clinical trial regulation and intellectual property rights.

Opportunity to improve investment climate