During the large-scale Russian Business Week 2026, the International Forum “Building a Space of Trust and Development in Conditions of Global Disunity” took place, dedicated to the transformation of the international economy. During the discussion, special attention was paid to healthcare and pharmaceutical security.
In his speech, Vadim Kukava, head of the Inpharma association, outlined the current state of the Russian pharmaceutical market and highlighted the key challenges facing the industry.
Foreign Pharma Stays in Russia
Despite the complex geopolitical situation of recent years, most foreign pharmaceutical companies have maintained their presence in the Russian market. As Vadim Kukava emphasized, this step is dictated by deep integration into the Russian healthcare system and social responsibility towards patients.
According to a study conducted by the Inpharma association at the end of last year, the positions of international players remain fundamental:
- Between 2021 and 2025, the share of drugs from international companies (including localized production) consistently exceeded 60% in value terms and accounted for more than a third in physical volume (in packages).
- In the segment of original (innovative) drugs, the contribution of foreign manufacturers reaches more than 80% both in monetary terms and in supply volumes.
The expert assured that there is no shortage of vital drugs from the association’s member companies in Russia, supplies are stable, and a significant part of the medicines is already produced domestically.
“Grey Zones” in Patent Protection
Despite the stability of supplies, Vadim Kukava drew attention to problems hindering the innovative development of the market. The main barrier remains predictability in the field of intellectual property protection.
The creation of a new drug is a science-intensive process that takes up to 15 years and requires billions in investments, so patents act as the main guarantor of return on investment. However, today there are so-called “grey zones” in Russian regulation. They allow copycat drugs to be brought to the market before the expiration of the original patent. International businesses are particularly concerned about the ambiguous practice of using the compulsory licensing mechanism, which undermines trust in the Russian jurisdiction.
“Compulsory licensing can be justified as an exceptional measure in situations related to national security and the protection of the life and health of the population, but any abuse of this mechanism causes systemic damage to the industry.”
— Vadim Kukava, Head of the Inpharma Association
Return of Clinical Trials
Positive news from the forum was the announcement of the possible resumption of international clinical trials in Russia. Previously, foreign companies had to suspend this activity due to the inability to guarantee safe logistics of materials amidst geopolitical instability.
Today, according to Kukava, logistics processes have been streamlined, and many foreign manufacturers are seriously considering returning to conduct clinical trials in the Russian Federation.
Concluding his report, the head of the association summarized that the pharmaceutical industry should not be divided into “theirs” and “ours”, as the patient’s life is always the central focus. Resolving existing patent problems will allow Russia not only to provide citizens with modern, effective drugs for a long and active life but also to take a leading position in the global technological future.
