Extraordinary subcommission
Experts are critical regarding chances of creating a drug procurement list based on trade names
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 1, cont’d pp. 4-5]
Without support
Manufacturers identify counterfeit medical products all by themselves
In mid-April, at the bacteriological lab of a Yaroslavl clinical hospital, 20 kg of culture medium were found with counterfeit packaging and labeling. These counterfeit products were discovered by the Research Center of Microbiology and Biotechnology, which is the manufacturer of the originator products. This was not for the first time that the Center’s personnel discovered fake medical products all by themselves. Seemingly, on the wave of the latest amendments to the Criminal Code, regulatory authorities should have reacted quickly and should have reported withdrawal of counterfeit products and detecting one more criminal group. Already a month ago, the information on the two first criminal cases commenced on-the-fly regarding the facts of discovering counterfeit drugs was in all media. However, in the case with the counterfeit medical products from Yaroslavl, it took rather long waiting for Roszdravnadzor’s reaction.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 2]
Totally based on science
Russian biopharmaceutics stakes on cooperation between the state and businesses
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) is getting ready for launch of a new ultramodern facility for biophysical research and drug development. The prospects of cooperation between the state, science, and businesses in the field of biopharmaceutics were the core of discussion at the 5th International Conference “PhysTechBio” hosted by MIPT on April 29—30.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 3]
Inevitably common
The main topic of the forum “IPhEB&CPhI Russia-2015” was harmonization of requirements in the EEU
In late April, the Exhibition of Economic Achievements (VDNKh) in Moscow hosted the annual international biopharmaceutics and biotechnology forum “IPhEB&CPhI Russia” traditionally held in St. Petersburg. It centered on one of the most discussed upcoming events, i.e. a launch of the EEU common market. It turned out that harmonization of the state legislations, first of all the national GMP requirements, causes a lot of argument in the industry regarding both the process mechanisms and prospects of this idea in principle.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 6]
To be or not to be
Pharma industry representatives have not made up their minds yet
On day 2 of the international biopharmaceutics and biotechnology forum “IPhEB&CPhI Russia”, a session on GPP was held. This topic has all of a sudden caused heated discussions between the attending experts. The representatives of pharmacy associations calling for the quickest possible implementation of GPP standards stood together against all other speakers.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 7]
After 15 years
The results of the 15th annual competition of the Pharma industry professionals “Platinum Ounce – 2014” were summed up on April 23. The main social event of the industry attracted the Pharma business elite. The event’s topic was cinema, and the announcement of the winners was accompanied with songs from well-known movies. It turned out that there were many things in common indeed between the movie and Pharma industries: there are blockbusters and remakes of their own as well as the main thing — a high-profile award ceremony.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, pp. 8-9]
An issue for everyone
Igor STRAMILOV came to the café where we agreed to meet for an interview holding a shell fragment in his hand. “That’s from there. Took it along just to remember always”, he explained.
Stramilov is a businessman, the owner of Floriya pharmacy chain. We met at one of the industry conferences where he appealed to his colleagues to support him in forming the next drug shipment for a children’s clinical hospital in Donetsk, Southeastern Ukraine. This appeal has not caused any agitation in the public. “There are special foundations”, a man in a nice tie observed. “We’d better act via these foundations”, the others supported him.
In the language of law, such people as Stramilov who prefer sending humanitarian supplies as personal service by-passing humanitarian convoys are called smugglers. And it is only physicians and moms of the little patients that know how many lives such supplies actually save.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 10]
Impeding load
RAPM regular meeting centered on outlook for VED list
In the pharmaceutical market, the falling ruble was most painful for manufacturers. The distributor and pharmacy chain margins have not been hit that fiercely. Nonetheless, VED-listed drugs have become much less profitable for these organizations. The objectives of and outlook for the Vital and Essential Drug list were the center of discussion by the participants of the regular meeting of the Russian Association of Pharmaceutical Marketing on April 29. The speakers tried to single out both positive and negative aspects of such list as well as make their proposals, if possible. Besides, they had to show maximum tolerance when maintaining their positions in a tough professional dialog.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, pp. 12-13]
Valuable growth
As of Q115, the Russian Pharma market reached about 341 bn RUB in consumer prices, which indicates growth year-on-year.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 18]
Little goes a long way
Report on parapharmaceutical segment of out-of-pocket market
Presently, parapharmaceutical sales are in the sphere of interests of pharmacy businesses. As a result, parapharmaceutical sales at pharmacies have been growing from year to year. On the one hand, parapharmaceuticals as a category constitute an accompanying product range and may be referred to the risk group under the current economic conditions; on the other hand, certain product groups within this category demonstrate sustainable demand.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 20-21]
Not lonely in the Net
Pharma brands in social networks
The drug and dietary supplement advertising market is skyrocketing. According to TNS Russia data, in 2014, advertising budgets of Pharma companies went up by 23%, and the number of ads running in various media – by 29%. TV accounts for 83% of pharmaceutical ad investments.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 22]
Major investors of our life
An efficient company leader does not merely give orders but also persuades of their feasibility sparing no time and displaying a personal attitude to and belief in the employees. It is such people that form a professional attitude to work and colleagues by their personal example and promote the formation of managers. The value of such leaders usually becomes evident after some time.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 23]
The era of grammarians
In many cases, foreign pharmaceutical companies were sustaining losses in the period of their initial development in the Russian market. That was often related to the local staff specifics.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 26]
Shining image of high efficiency
Internet as a working tool for drug manufacturers and pharmacy chains
Given the current opportunities of fast dissemination of information, including that medical, cooperation with medical websites comes to the fore for drug manufacturers. It concerns both forming a positive image of the drugs being promoted and opposing their discrediting. As for pharmacy chains, they have an opportunity of attracting more customers on the web.
[PharmVestnik #16, 19/05/2015, p. 26]
