Russian pharmaceutical company Vertex has delivered its first batch of medicines to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Sales of the drugs in North Korean pharmacies are scheduled to begin in early June, with further shipments planned. North Korea is Vertex’s first export destination in East Asia and its second in the Asia-Pacific region after Laos. The cooperation followed bilateral negotiations on drug supplies, in which the North Korean side had expressed interest, the company’s press service told GxP News.
The first batch comprised about 19,400 packs worth 5.35 million roubles. The shipment included generic cardiovascular drugs containing lisinopril and losartan, a dementia medicine with memantine, an anti‑asthma drug with montelukast, and Alerana brand hair growth sprays with minoxidil. The products will be available in both the retail and hospital segments of the country’s pharmaceutical market.
At the same time, Vertex continues to export to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. It announced its first shipment there in June 2025 and has already scheduled a third delivery before the end of this year. As of May, Vertex’s export portfolio also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
In 2025, it was reported that Russia and North Korea were discussing the possibility of joint drug manufacturing as well as Russian product supplies to the North Korean market. The two sides were also exploring cooperation on drug quality control and training Korean medical personnel at Russian universities.