Current issue #10, 2016

Two sides of meldonium

Mildronate sales grew manyfold after doping scandal involving Russian athletes

Doping scandals become the key events both for the athletes not all of whom are capable of resuming their sport careers after being caught with using performance boosters, but also for the countries weakened in terms of potential results before international competitions, and even for the banned drugs. After newsflashes revealing that the banned meldonium was identified in the blood samples of some Russian athletes in early March, the drug sales went up 2-10-fold, according to different sources, over a short period of time. Not long ago, this drug was associated with another scandal that had adversely affected its sales. Now there is no doubt that its sales will trend upward again.

[PharmVestnik # 10, 22/03/2016, p. 1, cont’d p. 4]

Syndicated antibiotics

FAS uncovered a cartel

The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Services (FAS) suspects three pharmaceutical distributors, i.e. Jodas Expoim, FC Farmakoppola, and Saticom, of price-fixing actions. In the FAS’ opinion, concerted actions by the companies helped them win 208 antibiotics supply biddings to the sum total exceeding 200 mn RUB. Currently, the antimonopoly agency is additionally inspecting about 1000 biddings in 50 Federal subjects. The officials at the FAS Anti-Cartel Department are sure that cartels present a serious threat for the Russian healthcare.

[PharmVestnik # 10, 22/03/2016, p. 2]

Minpromtorg secured minimum fine for Pharm-Sintez

On March 16, Moscow Arbitration Court continued proceedings regarding the Ministry’s of Industry and Trade (Minpromtorg) lawsuit against JSC Pharm-Sintez. According to the ministry, the company has violated the license requirements in respect of the manufacturing technology, document management, and sanitary regulations. The company partially agreed with the ministry’s claims and emphasized that the violations were discovered in the contract manufacturing site owned by Deko LLC and that part of these violations had been corrected. However, they insist at Pharm-Sintez that there have been no technological procedure violations and that the ministry officials demand the impossible. The court has satisfied the lawsuit, but the rationale is unknown so far.

[PharmVestnik # 10, 22/03/2016, p. 3]

Federal Tax Service opp...