In a recent development affecting the Russian pharmaceutical landscape, the Japanese firm Astellas has decided to cut its production of the antibiotic Vilprafen in Russia. The disclosure came from RBC, a major business publication. The company did not provide an explicit reason for this shift, leaving market observers to consider a range of possible factors from supply chain disruptions to strategic realignments in regional production. Industry watchers in North America and Europe note that such changes can ripple through hospital supply chains, particularly for widely used antibiotics. According to RBC, it is anticipated that hospital stock will be adequate for roughly six months as the transition unfolds.
Vilprafen’s international name is josamycin. RBC reported that, in the latter half of December, Russia’s stock of josamycin-based products was nearing exhaustion. The Russian Ministry of Health reportedly advised healthcare providers to substitute josamycin with azithromycin when appropriate. However, clinicians warned that some patients might respond differently to azithromycin, potentially complicating treatment for certain infections.
As of December 21, Vilprafen Solutab appeared in only a single outlet within the Megapteka network of 2,500 participating pharmacies, and Vilprafen itself was largely unavailable. Specific shortages were noted in cities including Tambov and St. Petersburg, where pharmacies in those regions reported no josamycin-containing medicines. This snapshot illustrates how supply constraints can intersect with regulatory guidance and patient needs, creating challenges for continuity of care in acute and chronic infectious disease management. [RBC attribution]
In a separate scientific context, researchers from the Federal Scientific Center for Physics and Chemistry named after Yu.M. Lopukhin, together with specialists at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), reported progress on a new compound that demonstrates antiviral activity by inhibiting coronavirus replication. While this line of inquiry is exploratory, it underscores ongoing efforts to expand the antiviral toolkit through novel molecular mechanisms. [Lopukhin Center / MIPT attribution]
There is also ongoing work among clinicians and researchers aimed at developing medicines that can slow the progression of dementia. This broader therapeutic theme reflects a sustained interest in extending quality of life for aging populations, addressing cognitive decline, and exploring potential disease-modifying strategies through pharmacological interventions. [Clinical research attribution]