Investing in Availability: Medicines from Molecule to Patient. Priorities for Health Innovation

Russia’s state policy concerning the circulation of medicinal products prioritizes the development and introduction of innovations, technological modernization, and the sovereignty of the industry. State support measures encourage companies to invest in drug development and production—from active pharmaceutical ingredients to finished dosage forms. One of the key tools for stimulating full-cycle pharmaceutical manufacturing and ensuring technological independence is the ‘second-out’ rule, which grants priority in state procurements to drugs that are fully localized within the EAEU. This preferential mechanism is being actively introduced, while the government and industry continue to hold an open dialogue about tools for mitigating associated risks. Finding a balance between localizing production and access to innovative therapies is a primary goal of the country’s pharmaceutical policy that aims to reconcile pharmaceutical sovereignty with the interests of patients. How can we ensure pharmaceutical accessibility while maintaining a balance between the needs of the population and the capabilities of the healthcare system? What measures could enhance access to innovative therapies? What systemic solutions could help develop mechanisms to reduce the cost of innovative drugs? What support measures stimulate the full-cycle production of original domestic drugs and foster technological independence? What risks does the ‘second-out’ rule entail, and what mitigation strategies is the industry prepared to propose? What joint initiatives between the government and business aim to modernize the pharmaceutical industry, including the goals of achieving technological sovereignty and developing innovative drugs?