Hard-pressed Russia insists on replenishing stocks of Viagra

The Red Army of Vladimir Putin is in a hurry to find a replacement for the blue pill.

Shipments of Viagra to Russia were halted by Viatris, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of the erectile dysfunction drug, shortly after Putin’s decisive invasion of Ukraine last year.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it would start producing a generic version to replenish its dwindling stocks.

“The drug with the trade name Viagra corresponds to the international non-proprietary name (INN) sildenafil and is not produced in Russia,” the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia said in a statement published by the state news service TASS.

The ministry added that Russia has “technological capabilities” to produce sildenafil. A total of 36 Russian companies have the “registration certificates” required for the production of tablets.

Viagra’s market share in Russia has fallen 22% year-on-year, according to data released in November by Russian analytics firm DSM Group and cited by The Washington Post.

The Post has reached out to Viatris for comment.

Viagra was originally developed and marketed by Pfizer, but the firm’s patent expired in 2020, paving the way for generic production. Viatris was created in late 2020 from a merger between a Pfizer subsidiary called Upjohn and pharmaceutical firm Mylan.

In its earnings report last May, Viatris noted that sales of its products in Russia and Ukraine were “less than 1% of total consolidated revenue” in the first quarter of 2022.

“However, trade controls, sanctions, supply chain and personnel issues, and other economic considerations related to the conflict have impacted our operations in these markets and may negatively impact our financial results going forward,” the company added. .

Last March, Pfizer said it would halt all investment and new clinical trials in Russia because of the invasion.

The Kremlin has been forced to stock up on various medications, including antidepressants, sleeping pills and birth control, due to fears of potential shortages. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has led to economic sanctions and a massive exodus of Western companies.