Hundreds of businesses have announced a suspension or withdrawal of operations in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Some of the most recent companies to join the increasing list were Eli Lilly, Novartis, and AbbVie.
Eli Lilly has halted the sale of “non-essential pharmaceuticals” to Russia, focusing its businesses in the nation entirely on cancer and diabetes, according to a statement released Tuesday by the drugmaker from Indianapolis.
Lilly has announced that it will contribute any revenues from Russia to humanitarian charity groups, joining Pfizer in this endeavor. In Russia, it has also slashed all funding, promotional efforts, and fresh clinical trials. Since 1989, Lilly has been active in Russia. According to the company’s Russian website, in addition to cancer and diabetes medications, the company also sells medicines for osteoporosis and mental illnesses.
From a humane aspect, suspending all activities or withdrawing altogether from Russia is not an option for pharmaceutical companies, unlike other corporate sectors. Another major diabetic treatment supplier, Novo Nordisk, has stated that it will do everything possible to sustain supplies both in Ukraine and Russia.
The corporation is “deeply concerned” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and claims it stays in touch with its staff there on a daily basis. They have halted further marketing and scientific expenditures in Russia and are concentrating their efforts on assisting their local workers and ensuring that over 650,000 patients may continue to receive their life-saving medication, says a Novo Nordisk representative in an email. The Russian factory still happens to be operational, supplying drugs to Russian patients, the email noted.
In Russia, where there are presently more than 3,000 patients engaged in research, the company has suspended the launch of new clinical studies and halted active registration of new patients, according to Novo. Novo has done the same in Ukraine as well, where 900 patients are currently engaged in clinical trials.
Pfizer and Bayer took critical decisions earlier this week: both companies are suspending operations in Russia and restricting their supply of vital medicines. Pfizer has stated that any earnings it receives from Russia will be used to help humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine. In a similar fashion, AbbVie revealed that it had temporarily halted operations in Russia for its aesthetics products. In Ukraine and Russia, it has also halted the start of new clinical trials as well as the screening and enrolment in existing studies.
Merck & Co., another American drug maker, has announced that it will no longer invest in Russia. For humanitarian reasons, they have a commitment to continue to distribute potentially vital and life-changing vaccinations to patients in Russia, said a Merck representative. Novartis and its generics company, Sandoz, have chosen to halt all investments and commercial marketing operations in Russia, according to a freshly updated blog post. Novartis stated that it is committed to ensuring access to medications for individuals in both nations.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman said that Novartis’ cross-town rival, Roche, is still operating in Russia, with a focus on delivering essential medications and some diagnostics in conformity with international humanitarian law.
