The Finnish pharmaceutical company Orion Pharma has begun the liquidation of its office in Russia. This is reported by Vedomosti, citing a source familiar with the company's plans and an interlocutor close to the top management of Orion Pharma.
According to the interlocutors, the Russian division of Orion Pharma is now laying off employees. No other details were given.
The company's main drug is Metipred, which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. In 2020, it was also recommended for patients with coronavirus. Methylprednisolone is a hormonal drug that is included in the list of vital drugs in Russia.
According to Russian law, if a pharmaceutical company stops producing such a drug, it must notify at least a year in advance. According to representatives of Roszdravnadzor and the Ministry of Health, Orion Pharma has not yet announced its decision to the departments.
Before, not a single pharmaceutical company announced a complete cessation of work in Russia. After the start of the war against Ukraine, Western pharmaceutical companies suspended investments in the Russian market, but promised to continue supplying drugs. Among them are Pfizer, Novartis, AbbVie, Sanofi.
Side effect. After the start of the war, medicines for people with Parkinson's disease disappeared from pharmacies — analogues threaten to worsen the condition