FSI SID&GP | The prospects for the development of cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia in the pharmaceutical industry were discussed as part of the business mission Made in Russia + INNOPROM

The prospects for the development of cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia in the pharmaceutical industry were discussed as part of the business mission Made in Russia + INNOPROM

Strengthening partnership relations between the two countries in the provision of quality and effective medicinal products for the population was discussed on the first day of the business mission during the session “Pharmaceutical Industry: Synergy for Healthcare.”

Vladislav Shestakov, Director of the Federal State Institution «State Institute of Drugs and Good Practices» under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, moderated the session. He stated, “In recent years, the trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia has been rapidly developing, and we believe that the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors of our countries should be one of the growth points.”

The wide range of participants agreed with his words. Representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health of Russia, the Ministry of Investments, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia, as well as their subordinate organizations and pharmaceutical industry leaders, gathered around the round table. The leaders of the Russian pharmaceutical market, manufacturers of biotechnological medicinal products for a wide variety of diseases, from diabetes and oncology to orphan diseases took part in the discussion.

Dmitry Galkin, Director of the Department for the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, spoke about the achievements of the Russian pharmaceutical industry in recent years, plans for the future, and the prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation. “Russian pharmaceutical companies are ready for any challenges, which is confirmed by the fact that currently more than 82 percent of essential and important medicines are produced independently in our country. This difference, which does not reach 100%, is, as a rule, the patented medicinal products of foreign companies. In addition, Russian pharmaceutical manufacturers actively enter foreign markets and are ready not only to supply quality, effective, and safe medicinal products to Saudi Arabia but also to create joint projects.” he noticed.

Dmitry Galkin also mentioned that Russia initiated the creation of the Global Association of Pharmaceutical Inspectorates (GAPI) and invited representatives of the Kingdom to join its governing board.

Soliman Al-Zaidan, an analyst for business development in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors at the Ministry of Investments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, discussed the measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop biotechnologies. He said, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has embarked on a path of transformation and seeks to develop leadership in many areas. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to accelerate the implementation of biotechnological innovations worldwide, and Saudi Arabia has prioritized biotechnology.”

Deputy General Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution «Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Alla Trapkova, and Director of Standards Department at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Dr. Yahya I. Al-Nujaym, discussed the specifics of drug registration procedures in their respective countries.

Representatives from the leading Russian pharmaceutical companies such as “Biocad,” “Generium,” “Geropharm,” and “Chimrar” discussed their competencies, drug export opportunities, and localization on the territory of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Vadim Tarasov, Director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, presented the possibilities of the Sechenov Medical University in the development of medicinal products through the entire cycle.

At the end of the session, Vladislav Shestakov emphasized, “I am confident that many of the questions that the audience had at the beginning of the meeting have already been clarified. Our discussion today will serve as an excellent starting platform for a new phase of ‘pharmaceutical industry synergy for healthcare’.”

The prospects for the development of cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia in the pharmaceutical industry were discussed as part of the business mission Made in Russia + INNOPROM

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