Current issue #35, 2017

PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017

// Regulatory & Legal

Boosting access to rare disease treatments

The State Duma proposes amendments to expand the Seven High-Cost Diseases Program by adding six more orphan diseases with the highest treatment costs. Deputies also strive to alleviate the “orphan burden” of local budgets funding treatments of 24 rare diseases to avoid drug shortage for any beneficiary groups. They presented their legislative initiative to the patient community at a press conference on 23 October in Moscow. However, some speakers say that a relevant government decision can be made fast instead of a lengthy and complex lawmaking procedure, but the Ministry of Finance would not even discuss such an opportunity.

[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 1, cont’d p. 3]

// Pharma Retailing

Pharmacies seeking new association format

In the pharmacy segment, a new association has formed uniting four federal chains with 1315 sales outlets all over Russia. Dmitry Sokol and Oleg Milyutin, the owners of Pharmacopeika and Tvoy Doctor (Your Doctor) pharmacy chains who “fathered” this project, speak about a brand new association format of a partnership type where all members have equal rights, and are ready to consolidate business processes thus boosting margin ratios and gross profits. This move was prompted by the active consolidation of market players in the past 2 years.

[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 4]

// Regulatory & Legal

MoH prevails over FAS in a drug interchangeability action

On 19 October, the Court of Appeal refused to sustain the complaint filed by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) in relation to Moscow Court of Arbitration judgment to withdraw FAS’ order in respect of the Ministry of Health to go back on cepeginterferon alfa-2b bidding results. Thus, yet another agency confirmed that the FAS was not authorized to determine drug interchangeability.

[PharmVestnik # 35, 31/10/2017, p. 5]