To develop vital drugs

STRELNA (ST. PETE), May 16 – RIA Novosti. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called a pharmaceutical community not only to manufacture vital drugs but to develop them locally.

“It is possible to reproduce the drugs, thus, it involves considerable investments but to develop novel drugs is a separate breakthrough line of activities to provide a foothold for us in the pharmaceutical market covered by Big Pharma companies. To achieve this we need young talents. We need to help and support them,”- Medvedev said during the meeting with Georgy Poltavchenko, St. Pete’s Mayor. He expressed hope for business representatives and local authorities to be actively involved in promotion of young talents.

The meeting takes place on the plot of Saint Petersburg Innovation Zone.

Poltavchenko noted that next year Prime Minister will be able to see not only pharmaceuticals manufactured but also those developed by local specialists. According to Mayor, St. Pete pharmaceutical cluster’s IPI has approximated 130% last year. 17 projects have been launched totaling to RUR37B. He said that there are no issues with young talents to be trained in pharmacology due to the cluster’s actual capabilities encompassing both production premises and scientific institutions.

In the course of talks Prime Minister noted of being pleasantly surprised of the progress achieved onsite. "There are world class high-tech production in place", - Medvedev said, stating, however, that priorities of such specific economic zones have been formed some years ago. Head of the government mentioned how important it is to promote and manufacture drugs, which are the key to the treatment of diseases.