The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade said, on Wednesday, that it is working to establish a local industry of a drug similar to “Viagra”, after the American company that manufactured this drug stopped its supplies to Russia.
newspaper reportedWashington PostMedicines and other medical equipment are not subject to the comprehensive economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States, Britain, the European Union, and other backers of Ukraine after the Russian invasion.
However, Western pharmaceutical companies have warned that supplies of their products to Russia could be disrupted as a result of the sanctions, which cut off Russian banks from the international financial system SWIFT and prompted major shipping companies to suspend operations in the country.
The US drug company Viatris – a subsidiary of Pfizer – which makes Viagra, an erectile dysfunction treatment, told the Russian government last year that it would stop selling the drug in pill form.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade told the Interfax news agency that while the drug used to make Viagra, sildenafil, is not currently being produced in Russia, companies in the country have the “technological potential” to manufacture it and that registration certificates have been issued for 36 companies.
In November, Russian drug analytics company DSM reported that Viagra’s Russian market share had fallen by 22 percent in volume year-on-year, and by 5 percent in value terms due to supply disruptions and competition from similar drugs.
While many companies have voluntarily reduced or ended their business dealings in Russia, Ukraine has demanded that pharmaceutical companies cease operations, accusing them of siding with the aggressor.
In May, Kiev adopted a law enabling the government to remove from the Ukrainian market medicines that were produced by companies with ties to Russia.
