Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry announced last week that it has been working on setting up a domestic manufacturer of generic forms of Viagra, the medication used to treat erectile dysfunction, after the U.S. said it would stop supplies last year.
The U.S. pharmaceutical company, Viatris, which is a spinoff of Pfizer, officially cut off new supplies last Wednesday.
Medication is not a part of the economic sanctions placed on Russia by the United States, the European Union and other supporters of Ukraine, but Western pharmaceutical companies have stated that supplies could be halted due to sanctions targeting Russia’s major banks. As a result, many have voluntarily reduced or ended their business in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a new offensive against Ukraine, which is now in progress.
The Industry and Trade Ministry told news outlet Interfax that Russian companies have the “technological possibility” to manufacture sildenafil, the medication in Viagra, or alternatives.
Thirty-six Russian companies have now been granted registration certificates to produce a domestic version of the medication.
This has become a trend since the beginning of the invasion with drugmakers such as Eli Lilly, Novartis and AbbVie withdrawing their supplies in Russia.
However, unlike many other types of businesses, completely ending operations in the country is not entirely feasible from a humanitarian perspective.
Last year, Eli Lilly suspended the exportation of “non-essential medicines” to Russia, only leaving its “essential” cancer and diabetes operations active in the country.
Other pharmaceutical companies have followed suit.
