Antibiotics did not hit the shelves – Business – Kommersant

Russian pharmacies record a local shortage of broad-spectrum antibiotics, including the drug amoxiclav. Market participants explain the situation with a seasonal increase in demand for this group of drugs, as well as active purchases of such drugs during mobilization. In addition, manufacturers could have difficulties with the supply of raw materials from Asian countries, where the production of substances has suffered due to restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the shortage in pharmacies of antibiotics based on amoxicillin, including the drug amoxiclav on Tuesday, November 8, reported “RIA News”. According to the agency, one of the Moscow pharmacies said that several outlets were experiencing difficulties with supplies, and there were “no antibiotics at all” in warehouses in Moscow.

Director of the Association of Independent Pharmacies, head of the Alliance of Pharmaceutical Associations Victoria Presnyakova confirms that pharmacies are registering a local shortage of broad-spectrum antibiotics: amoxiclav, augmentin, ecoclave, pancef.

These medicines are almost non-existent in the warehouses of suppliers, and the shortage is associated with increased demand, she points out. According to Ms. Presnyakova, in autumn, with the exacerbation of infectious diseases, the demand for this group of drugs is growing, in addition, mobilized citizens, as well as companies and funds for sending humanitarian aid to the line of contact, buy antimicrobial drugs.

Amoxiclav is used in the treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, gynecological infections, skin and soft tissue infections, etc. According to online pharmacy storefronts, the drug is produced by the Slovenian company Lek d. d. is a division of international Novartis. In mid-March, after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine and a new wave of sanctions against the Russian Federation, Novartis announced the suspension of investments in Russia, while maintaining the supply of essential drugs. Kommersant turned to the Russian office of Novartis for a comment.

Nikolai Bespalov, development director at RNC Pharma, says that problems with antibiotics based on amoxicillin and clavulanic acid seem to arise at the stage of the drugs entering the market.

This may be due to both a decrease in the volume of imports of amoxiclav and its analogues, and a reduction in the supply of raw materials in the interests of enterprises in Russia, he believes. According to RNC Pharma, in January-September, the volume of ready-made drugs of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid entering the Russian market decreased by almost 50% year-on-year.

Victoria Presnyakova adds that there is a shortage of this group of antibiotics all over the world. According to her, most manufacturers purchase the substance for the release of the drug in Asia, including China and India, and the restrictive measures introduced in these countries during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a reduction or even a halt in the production of substances. As Ms. Presnyakova notes, manufacturers promise new deliveries of clavulanic acid not earlier than in a month. But there are no problems with amoxicillin now, other broad-spectrum antibiotics are also available in sufficient quantities, she added.

The situation with amoxicillin in the Ministry of Industry and Trade also bind with high demand. They added that in Russia the drug is produced at five sites in various forms and, according to the labeling system, there are about 10.5 million packages in total. In addition, Russian manufacturers plan to increase production. Given the completion of partial mobilization, as well as the entry of new local manufacturers into the market, failures in supplying the pharmacy network will stop, the Ministry of Industry and Trade concluded.

Anatoly Kostyrev