Russia, India to launch pharmaceutical production in Moscow Region in 2027, Kaluga Region in 2029 - Russian trade minister

NEW DELHI. Sept 10 (Interfax) - The launch of joint production for the first pharmaceutical products at a site in Dubna, Moscow Region, involving Indian partners, is scheduled for 2027, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said at the plenary session of the Innoprom India forum.

According to Alikhanov, plans are also in place to launch the production of pharmaceutical substances in the Kaluga Region in three years, with Indian participation.

"We expect the production of medicines to begin next year in the Moscow Region, specifically in the city of Dubna, while the launch of a plant for active pharmaceutical substances in the Kaluga Region is scheduled for 2029," Alikhanov said.

Alikhanov noted that Russia has already implemented joint projects with India to produce anti-tuberculosis and anti-HIV drugs in Belgorod, and has established the production of anti-cancer drugs in the Yaroslavl Region.

As previously reported, Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov and Indian entrepreneur Rajesh Sharma, founder of Advanced Group, signed an agreement to construct a pharmaceutical plant in the Dubna special economic zone (SEZ) during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in 2022. Advanced Group began the design phase this year, with an estimated investment volume of 2.5 billion rubles. The facility is set to develop and produce anti-cancer, antibacterial, and anti-tuberculosis drugs, as well as medications to treat HIV, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

An agreement between Pharmasyntez Group and India's BDR Pharmaceuticals envisages constructing a pharmaceutical substance production plant in the Kaluga Region. Pharmasyntez president Vikram Punia in an interview with Interfax on the sidelines of SPIEF 2026 said that the project entails the initial production of approximately 20 drugs, as well as the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients for cytostatic anti-tumor medications. Investments are estimated at around 3 billion rubles. Production is expected to launch between late 2028 and 2029, Punia said.