Novartis, AstraZeneca Pledge Support For Russia At St. Petersburg Economic Forum In Latest Big Pharma Move To Go Local

Russia Premier Vladimir Putin has said he wants multinational pharmaceutical companies to manufacture drugs in Russia and support development of the local industry as part of a $4 billion government initiative to reform the Russia healthcare market by 2020. So perhaps it is not too surprising that both Novartis AG and AstraZeneca PLC chose to re-emphasize their commitments to Russia by each issuing press releases June 16 to coincide with the kickoff of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum