The American Eli Lilly has banned the supply of Humalog insulin to Russia.

The American Eli Lilly banned the Swiss Swixx BioPharma, which a year ago bought Eli Lilly’s business in RUSSIA, from supplying Humalog insulin to the country. Roszdravnadzor ruled out an insulin shortage in the country due to this decision

The Swiss company Swixx BioPharma has stopped supplying Humalog insulin to Russia by decision of its manufacturer, the American Eli Lilly, Kommersant reports, citing a letter from the company sent in response to requests from the patient community.

Roszdravnadzor confirmed to the newspaper that in February 2024 , Swixx BioPharma notified plans to stop supplies to Russia of drugs with the INN “insulin lispro” (“Humalog”). As Kommersant notes, according to existing legislation, manufacturing companies must warn the Russian agency about the cessation of supplies of medicines a year before the planned date.

“According to monitoring the movement of medicines, as of June 10, 2024, there are more than a million packages of drugs with the INN “insulin lispro” of domestic and foreign production in civil circulation, which corresponds to the annual need for this medicine. In addition, in 2024, another Russian manufacturer, Pharmsintez-Nord JSC, began production of such insulin. Thus, patients’ need for this drug will be fully met,” Roszdravnadzor emphasized.

Swixx BioPharma and Eli Lilly did not respond to the newspaper's request, but a source familiar with the company's plans confirmed that Eli Lilly insulins will stop supplying Russia. “For other products, everything is supplied regularly,” added Kommersant’s interlocutor.

“Humalog” is DNA recombinant insulin, or insulin of animal origin, which is an analogue of human insulin. The main effect of the drug is the regulation of glucose metabolism. This insulin is used to treat people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and was approved by the FDA in 1996.

In March 2022, Eli Lilly suspended investments in Russia and the launch of new clinical trials. The company also announced that it would temporarily stop supplying non-life-saving drugs, and that proceeds from the sale of drugs in Russia would be sent to organizations that provide assistance to Ukraine .

Eli Lilly announced its departure from Russia and the sale of the business to the Swiss Swixx Biopharma a year later, in March 2023. At that time, over 20 Eli Lilly drugs were introduced in Russia, which were aimed at combating diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and mental disorders. Among the most famous drugs produced by the company are the antipsychotic “Zyprexa”, the drug for the treatment of oncological diseases “Siramza”, insulin “Humulin”, etc.

According to DSM Group, in 2021 Eli Lilly sold drugs for hospital audits in monetary terms for 9.63 billion rubles, in 2022 - for 7.33 billion rubles. The volume of medicines supplied by the company in 2022 also decreased and amounted to 278 thousand packages compared to 349 thousand packages a year earlier.