Between January and June 2019, Russia imported 274.4 bln RUB worth of ready-made pharmaceuticals (free circulation prices), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 11.3% higher than that of the same period in 2018. The dynamics of the in-bull import in monetary terms are +2.2%, with 53.8 bln RUB.

The dynamics in physical terms are much worse. Between January and June 2019, Russia imported 850 mln units of ready-made pharmaceutical drugs, which is in physical terms 3.9% lower than that of the same period in 2018. If calculated in minimum dosage units (MDUs), the dynamics are still negative, -1.5%. As for the in-bulk import, the dynamics in physical terms are as low as -28.5%. In total, Russia imported 17.8 bln MDUs, and the dynamics are -4.6%.

Among the top 15 companies with the highest import of ready-made drugs, Astellas, which has doubled its import, has the highest dynamics in monetary terms. Wilprafen and Xtandi contributed to the dynamics, with a 2.1 and 2.8 times increased, respectively. In summer 2018, the company also stopped producing Flemoxin Solutab in-bulk (at the premises of Ortat of the R-Pharm group) in favor of the ready-made form, which had a significant impact on the company’s import of ready-made drugs.

Abbott had the lowest dynamics in monetary terms among the top 15 companies (-21%), mainly due to an abrupt decrease of the import of Heptral (-53%). Heptral is being actively pushed out by Russian alternative Heptor by Veropharm, which is part of the Abbott Corp. since 2014. So, the profits still come to Abbott.

As for in-bulk importers, Novartis is second to none in terms of dynamics, which has increased in monetary terms by 3.8 times. The product line has also expanded, from 5 to 7. Anti-tumor Tafinlar contributed to the dynamics the most; it accounts for around 40% of the company’s in-bulk import. The drug is packaged in the Ryazan region (Russia) at the premises of Skopinpharm. Merck has the lowest dynamics, its import has decreased by 45% in monetary terms due to a significant decrease of the import of Concor (-36% in monetary terms).

Dynamics of import of pharmaceuticals, including homeopathic and seawater drugs, to Russia, free circulation prices including customs clearance and VAT, RUB (January 2018 – June 2019)