Western drugmakers reducing presence in Russia

Western drugmakers are reducing their presence in Russia, which is reflected by the drop of demand and sales of their drugs in the local market, The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent reports.

For example, in case of MSD, the trading name for Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) outside the USA and Canada, since February 24, 2022 the company has reduced its portfolio of drugs in Russia by almost 25% although the pharmaceutical industry was not subject to Western sanctions. That led to the drop of revenue of the company in Russia by 37% in 2023, to 8.7 billion roubles ($93 million).

MSD was one of the few Western drugmakers that significantly cut their Russian range. The company withdrew most of its original drugs from Russia due to inability to compete with generics and almost suspended registration of new drugs in the local market.