The Association of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AVPHARM) conveyed a vision of the prospects of foreign veterinary medicinal products for companion animals in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

The Association spoke on the topic “Foreign veterinary drugs for non-productive animals: prospects and risks for the Russian market” at the event in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation on July 13. The market of the veterinary medicines for pets is an extensive, constantly developing area of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Veterinarians and pet owners must be able to choose freely the necessary and suitable drugs for their animals. The Association of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Manufacturers believes that only the presence of a wide selection of both Russian and foreign veterinary drugs on the market can guarantee the use of the most competitive and advanced solutions in the field of veterinary medicine.
At the moment, 164 imported drugs including 53 vaccines, as well as 319 locally produces drugs, including 47 vaccines, have been registered in Russia for use in the treatment and in the prevention of diseases of companion animals. Imported drugs are commonly used for the vaccination and the treatment of pets, including the cases of rabies, leptospirosis, babesiosis, bordetellosis, in the field of pathologies of the circulatory system, in neurology and nephrology, in the treatment of diabetes. Imported sedatives, painkillers, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic and antimicrobial drugs are in wide demand as well.
It is impossible to say unequivocally which imported drugs and vaccines can be replaced with locally produced solutions due to the lack of uniform approved criteria. We understand that every veterinary specialist makes a choice consciously and independently. In our opinion, such a choice is to be as free as possible and is to be based on one’s own experience, or on information documented in academic papers – said Simeon Zhavoronkov, the CEO of the Association.
According to the Association, the main criteria for choosing medicines for veterinary use must remain efficiency, effectiveness, as well as the balance between safety and cost. Specialists will also inevitably take into consideration the possibilities of using a particular drug as part of a complex of preventive and therapeutic measures, pay attention to the concentration of active substances.
The Association of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AVPHARM) stressed the concern about the possible risks for the veterinary medicines of foreign production. Logistics of drugs and specific materials required for regulatory procedures, GMP inspections collapse as well as insufficient legal clarity of requirements to deposit strains of pathogenic microorganisms were called among them. For example, according to AVPHARM, the expected entry into force of the Article 52.2 of the Federal Law # 61-FZ “On Circulation of Medicines” (dated April 12, 2010) in September 2023 may close the national market for 85-90% of currently registered imported veterinary medicinal products. This is a result of time shortage and procedural difficulties preventing most of foreign producing sites from acquiring the necessary Eurasian (Russian) GMP certification.
To overcome the described risks, the Association of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Manufacturers has prepared and submitted a series of proposals to develop, support and rescue the industry. The Association emphasized that the solution of the accumulated problems requires a proactive dialogue between industry members and the regulatory authorities, primarily the Rosselkhoznadzor (The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision).
We are waiting for the adoption of the roadmap proposed to the Rosselkhoznadzor on the issue of pathogenic microorganisms strains deposition. We are doing everything possible to deliver the required reagents, which are only available at foreign producing sites. We call for the adaptation of legal regulation to the new conditions and initiated the creation of the working group on stable supplies of the imported veterinary medicines. We expect the necessary decision on the group to be made – the executive director of the Association told the participants.
Simeon Zhavoronkov added: As long as every distributor, veterinary clinic or pet owner solves the problem of shortage independently, the problem of the lack of the medicines and the vaccines will not be solved. The current situation requires cooperative measures. The main aim of all industry participants and pet owners is animal health. The key to animal health is to provide the use of drugs that are chosen freely by veterinarians and pet owners.