Swiss drugmaker Novartis, US-based Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Pfizer and Germany would withdraw from Russia
Lilly corporate centre in Indiana, US. (Credit: Momoneymoproblemz/Wikipedia)
US-based pharma company Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has joined its rival drugmakers in winding down its operations in Russia, after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lilly stated that it will continue to provide lifesaving medicines for patients with urgent medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes.
However, it has decided to halt the sale of non-essential medicines, along with new investments, promotion, and new clinical trials in the country.
The company said that any profit arising from the continued sales in Russia will be donated to organisations dedicated to humanitarian relief.
A global health and bioethics researcher Anant Bhan told Reuters: “While it is good to see large corporations, including in the pharmaceutical space, take a proactive stand against war and aggression, any step to suspend medical supplies, even for non-essential items, could end up putting the health of patients in Russia at risk.”
Swiss drugmaker Novartis also announced its plans to stop investments, marketing activities and all of its scientific activities in Russia, the publication said.
US-based Abbott Laboratories has withdrawn from non-essential spending in the country, while AbbVie has temporarily suspended operations for all its aesthetics products.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has refrained from opening any new sites in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, but has confined its activities to providing essential health products.
In addition, drugmakers Pfizer and Bayer have announced their plans to pull back from non-essential spending, while maintaining the humanitarian supply of medicines to Russia.
The healthcare sector companies did not pull out from Russia, as medicine and medical devices are excepted from sanctions, considering humanitarian reasons, reported Reuters.
Furthermore, Lilly claimed that it has donated $7.5m of insulin to non-profit organisation Project HOPE, which is currently working in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
Also, the company is supplying $1.8m worth of baricitinib, a treatment for Covid-19 complications, to another non-profit organisation Direct Relief.