In Q1 2024, Russia-based manufacturers produced 193.1 billion rubles’ worth of ready-made pharmaceutical drugs (manufacturer’s prices, VAT included), up 13.8% from Q1 2023. In physical terms, 993 million packages were manufactured, up 1.4% from January–March 2023, or 19.9 billion minimum dosage units (MDU), up 4.1%.

The growth rates in physical terms in March 2024 hit an 11-month low—the production was 343.9 million packages, or 6.7 billion MDUs, down 7.3% and 7%, respectively. However, the low growth rates can be explained by the fact that production peaked back in March 2023—this year, it is quite possible it will peak in April. In monetary terms, the production was 68.6 billion rubles, up 0.4% from March 2023.

Pharmaceutical drugs by Russian manufacturers account for as much as 91.9% of the total manufacture in Q1 2024. At the same time, the production by Russian companies grew 1.2% in packages, while the manufacture by localized companies went up 4.2%. The number of Russian manufacturing companies was 338, up 37, while that of foreign companies was 56, down 4.

Among the top 20 Russian companies with the largest production volumes, Renewal, Bright Way, and Vertex had the best growth rates—their production went up 65%, 61%, and 52%, respectively. Mainly common OTC drugs contributed to the growth rates of Renewal, in particular, Validol, Activated Carbon, Naphthyzin, etc. Bright Way increased the production of generics, in particular, the maximum Loperamide, Ibuprofen and Ambroxol. As for Vertex, Bisoprolol, Losartan, and Fluconazole helped the company’s growth rates.

Most top foreign manufacturers saw a severalfold increase in production. In particular, the production of Menarini grew 3.4 times against Q1 2023. The manufacture of Bayer Healthcare went up 3.1 times, and AstraZeneca rounds out the top three—its production increased 2.1 times. Mezym, manufactured at the company’s own plant in Kaluga, contributed to Menarini’s growth rates the most. Bayer Healthcare continues to develop local production with Polysan, which has been manufacturing Xarelto since April 2023, and Nizhpharm, which has been producing Relief since August 2023. As for AstraZeneca, Betaloc and Farxiga, produced at the company’s plant in Kaluga Oblast, helped its growth rates the most. However, since a generic version of Farxiga is now available, the company’s future performance may change somewhat.

Pharmaceutical drug production in Russia, including production of pharmaceuticals of foreign companies at owned or contract plants, in physical (packages) and monetary terms (RUB, VAT included) (2019–2023, Q1 2024)