Current issue #36, 2016

Responsible for illegal trading

More than 38.5 bn Yandex web search queries relate to drugs and pharmacies. Of them, about 1 m queries are generated by potential customers who decided to turn to web pharmacies. However, half of such orders remain virtual. Per Yandex.Market representative, this is because large federal pharmacy chains ignore Internet trading opportunities. Yandex calls on businesses to step up their activity and states its readiness, as an aggregator, to bear responsibility for its partners’ fair practices. Pharma industry players are surprised to hear a statement like that as they do not see anything bad in the existence of such services. At the same time, they remind that first it is necessary to resolve the issue of online drug sales lawfulness. As a matter of fact, the aggregators provide access to goods that may not be selling online so far.

[PharmVestnik # 36, 08/11/2016, p. 1, cont’d p. 3]

Antitrust avant-gardism

Experts discussed patent law, interchangeability, and dietary supplements fate

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) called on the relevant agencies to stop using outdated standards and start regulating the pharma industry without discounting the reality. This was the essence of FAS’ spokesperson Timofey Nizhegorodtsev’s presentation at the session “Antitrust regulation in the pharmaceutical industry”. He promised advocacy to all market players who comply with the law instead of living by the rules and working by “framework” agreements.

[PharmVestnik # 36, 08/11/2016, p. 2]

In spite of sanctions

Roszdravnadzor to evolve as a recognized international player

November 2^nd was the opening day of the conference “Pharmaceuticals and medical device circulation” hosted by the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare and Social Development (Roszdravnadzor). The entry list, agenda and, finally, speech by agency’s head Mikhail Murashko provided the evidence that this Russian regulatory agency was an active participant of the international regulatory processes. Besides, the main message was the pervasive force of innovations — in legislation, drug quality control, etc. It felt like Mr. Murashko intended to create a super-regulatory body at Roszdravnadzor taken by itself.

[PharmVestnik # 36, 08/11/2016, p. 4]

Saving in process

The government to cut drug coverage expenditures for the nex...