The Russian Ministry of Health is engaged in intense work to create its own production of immunoglobulins, including antiresus for the prevention of rhesus conflict in pregnant women. According to the head of the department, Mikhail Murashko, the Ministry of Health, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is developing a set of measures to increase the production of these drugs at existing enterprises, as well as to launch new manufacturing facilities. His words were quoted by TASS. At the end of 2024, the regional Ministries of Health reported a shortage of antiresus immunoglobulin, which is used in obstetrics to preserve pregnancy in Rh-negative women.
The Minister pointed out that all the listed drugs are included in the list of vital and essential medicines. “Together with the regions of the Russian Federation, we work on increasing the volume of procurement of Rh-negative plasma. Monitoring of the number of donors and the volume of immunospecific plasma has already been organized,” Murashko said, speaking at the All-Russian Forum on Blood and Bone Marrow Donation “Donation as a System. Operational Strategies and Development Priorities”.
The head of the Ministry of Health added that in the context of modern challenges, the supply of plasma for the production of medicines plays a key role in import substitution for the production of vital medicines based on blood and its components.
In 2024, the media reported a shortage of anti-D immunoglobulin in women’s clinics, maternity hospitals, general hospitals and pharmacies in several Russian regions. State Duma deputy Nina Ostanina called on the Russian Ministry of Health to take measures in connection with the shortage of medicines in the regions.
The total volume of antiresus immunoglobulin that entered the market in 2024 amounted to 98,800 packages, according to the RNC Pharma analytical company. Compared to 2023, the supply of the drug decreased by 54%. Difficulties were also observed in 2022. Analysts did not rule out that they were related to logistics problems that were resolved relatively quickly, since in 2023 the market received almost all the necessary supplies.
