31 October 2025

22 September 2025

7 July 2025

22 June 2025

12 June 2025

12 May 2025

2 April 2025

Fund For Financing Start-Aps in the Pharmaceutical Industry to be Created in Uzbekistan

A specialized venture fund will be created in the Republic of Uzbekistan, aimed at supporting innovative startups in the field of biopharmaceuticals, cell technologies and oncological research. In parallel, an investment fund is created to finance promising thematic projects.

The decree also assigns a number of additional tasks to the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Uzbekistan:

- development of dietary supplement and cosmetic product markets, including the introduction of advanced foreign practices;
- monitoring and accounting of investment projects of regional pharmaceutical enterprises;
- digitalization of the pharmaceutical industry and the introduction of information programs.

By the end of 2025, the laboratory of the Center for Pharmaceutical Product Safety must undergo the WHO prequalification procedure.

In addition, in the medium term (by mid-2025), it is planned to form five reference plantations of medicinal plants - with the subsequent organization of processing industries (by the end of 2026).

The infrastructure development of the industry will be supplemented by the creation of the state organization Pharm Service, specializing in providing marketing support and consulting support for the implementation of modern standards in pharmaceutical production.

Source: GxP News

All Pharmacies and Clinics in Uzbekistan Will Become VAT Payers From April 2025

From April 2025, all pharmacies and clinics in Uzbekistan will be transferred to the payment of value added tax. VAT reports will be generated automatically by tax authorities.

From April 1, 2025, all legal entities selling pharmaceutical products or providing medical services in Uzbekistan will be required to pay VAT, regardless of income level. This is provided for by the presidential decree of December 27. Tax authorities will automatically generate VAT reports based on data from virtual cash registers, online cash register receipts and electronic invoices, as well as other external and internal data.

In addition, it is planned to cancel the excise tax on imported polyethylene raw materials (the excise tax on polyethylene granules today is 10%), which is used for the production of pharmaceutical products.

The draft law on amendments is to be developed by March 2025. After that, it must be approved by parliament and the president.

Source: Gazeta.UZ

23 December 2024

In 2025, a Pilot Project For Labeling Dietary Supplements Will Be Implemented in Kazakhstan

A huge range of dietary supplements is sold in Kazakhstan, most of which are not registered in the EAEU and do not have information for the consumer in Kazakh or Russian.

The regulator is confident that digital identification codes on dietary supplements guarantee the consumer the purchase of legal, certified products. In 2025, a pilot stage of labeling dietary supplements will begin, which will take up to 1.5 years, and only after its successful completion will the possibility of introducing mandatory labeling be considered - until 2027.
The introduction of mandatory labeling is taking place in several stages. First a pilot project. First, a pilot project. Labeling is tested on those companies that want to participate in the "pilot" and technical capabilities are tested, selecting optimal solutions. Then there is public discussion and analysis (3-6 months), hearings with market participants and the public. After - approval: coordination with the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and entry into force of the decision.

According to the Ministry of Trade of Kazakhstan, 8.3 million drug packages were labeled in Kazakhstan in 2023. In 2024 - 175.2 million packages. At the moment, 65.5 million drugs are in circulation, of which 36.8 million are imported, and 28.7 million are domestic. 7.24 million drugs have been withdrawn from circulation.

Source: Kazakhstan Pharmaceutical Bulletin

The legal turnover of the pharmaceutical market of Uzbekistan in 2024 reached 19.7 trillion soums (about $ 1.55 billion). At the same time, the market structure demonstrates a significant predominance of imported products, which account for 15.7 trillion soums, which is almost 80% of the total volume.

Domestic manufacturers provided supplies of medicines worth about 4 trillion soums, which indicates a significant import dependence of the country's pharmaceutical sector. Data from the statistics agency confirms the growing trend in imports of medical and pharmaceutical products, which increased by 8.1% compared to 2023 and reached $ 1.73 billion.

A regional analysis of drug consumption revealed significant differences between the regions of the country. Tashkent became the leader in sales with an indicator of 5 trillion soums, which is more than a quarter of the entire legal market. The capital is followed by Samarkand region with 2.6 trillion soums and Fergana region with 1.5 trillion soums. When calculating per capita expenditure, Tashkent also leads with an indicator of 1.7 million soums, significantly ahead of Bukhara (746 thousand soums) and Samarkand (660.7 thousand soums) regions.

The capital's high indicators are explained by the concentration of large medical institutions and a more developed healthcare infrastructure.

The system of fiscal receipts with product identification codes allows the Tax Committee to keep accurate records of the legal circulation of medicines and analyze consumer preferences of the population.

Arab Funds Are Ready To Finance Kazakhstan's Projects in Medicine

Four international financial institutions, members of the Arab Coordination Group, have expressed their readiness to invest in the development of Kazakhstan's medical infrastructure. The agreements were reached during a series of meetings between Health Minister AkmaralAlnazarova and representatives of the funds on the sidelines of a round table held in Astana.

The parties discussed prospects for cooperation and financing of priority projects.

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development is interested in implementing investment projects with its own funds.

The OPEC Fund for International Development has expressed its readiness to finance projects worth more than $2 billion over the next three years, including in the field of healthcare.

The Saudi Development Fund has expressed interest in the construction of a children's surgical center based on the UMC Corporate Fund, considering the possibility of co-financing the project.

The Qatar Development Fund has announced its readiness to support small projects worth $2-3 million annually.

Russia and Uzbekistan Agreed to Transfer Information on Drug Labeling Codes

Russia and Uzbekistan have agreed to cooperate to transfer information about drug labeling codes. Transfer of codes will make it possible not to apply additional labeling to medicines for export Russia and Uzbekistan undertake to mutually transfer the specified codes of drugs exported from the territory of one state after customs procedures for export to the territory of another state. This should strengthen measures to combat the production, trafficking and sale of counterfeit and falsified medicines.

Transferring codes will also eliminate the need to apply additional labeling to drugs for export, which will reduce the financial burden on pharmaceutical manufacturers. In addition, it will be possible to trace the entire chain "manufacturer - consumer" using one labeling code.

Production of New Radiopharmaceuticals to Be Launched in Almaty

The Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan plans to launch production of radiopharmaceuticals based on the actinium-225 isotope by the end of 2024. Memorandums of cooperation were signed with interested companies from Uzbekistan, China and Turkey.

One gram of actinium-225 costs $80 million. This price will continue to rise. Several Japanese companies have already confirmed their interest in purchasing finished products rather than raw materials.

Retail Pharmaceutical Market of Uzbekistan for 9 Months of 2024

According to the results of 9 months of 2024, the volume of retail sales of medicines in the Republic of Uzbekistan amounted to 17.3 trillion soums corresponds to 1.4 billion US dollars or 442 million packages. Compared to the same period of the previous year, the market volume increased by 15.7% in national currency and by 6.2% in dollar terms. In packages, consumption shows a decrease of 9.9%.

The top 3 pharma companies remain same KRKA, Stada and Yuria-Pharm. It should be noted that almost all companies that entered the top 20 demonstrated double-digit growth rates. In most cases, the main contribution to the increase in sales volume is provided by an increase in prices due to local inflation. 

Source: Proxima Research

Pharmaceutical Market of Uzbekistan 2023 at a Glance

According to Proxima Research, the Pharmaceutical Market of Uzbekistan is actively developing, demonstrating an increase both in value and volume.

Based on the results of 2023, the retail sales of medicines and dietary supplements amounted to 20.8 trillion soum (equivalent is 1.8 billion US dollar). In terms of volume, pharmacy sales amounted to 646 million packages.

In Q1 2024, the sales volume in national currency amounted to 6.2 trillion soum and increased by 26% compared to the same period in 2023. In dollar terms, the increase was 15%, and in volume - 8%.

In the first quarter of 2024, top 3 companies in retail sales of medicines were KRKA, Stada and Yuria Pharm. Top 3 brands were recorded for Sodium Chloride, Tivortin and Rheosorbilac.

Top 3 Kazakh Pharmaceutical Distributors for the First 9 Months of 2024

The pharmaceutical distributor market in Kazakhstan is a dynamically developing sector that adapts well to rapidly changing regulatory conditions, including integration with the EAEU legislation.

According to Vi-ORTIS, the TOP 3 distributors in the category "total sales" remain unchanged:

1. Amanat, LLP. Amanat managed to win the leading position this year (21.46%, +1.21%) with a small margin of 0.5%.
2. Medservice Plus, LLP.
3. Inkar, LLP.

The share of 3 distributors accounted for more than half of the market.

Source: Vi-ORTIS

2 September 2024

TOP 15 Pharmacy Chains in the Retail Market of Kazakhstan in the 1st Half of 2024

Kyrgyz Authorities Has Approved the National List of Vital Medicines and Medical Devices

The decision was signed by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov.

It is noted that ensuring access to safe and effective medicines is the main goal of global efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

The criteria for including medicines and medical devices in the specified list are safety, proven clinical efficacy and economic accessibility.

The State Enterprise Kyrgyzpharmacy Was Established Under the MoH Of The Kyrgyz Republic

March 1st 2024, the state enterprise Kyrgyzpharmacy was established.

Goals and objectives of the enterprise:

1. Ensuring a fundamentally new approach to the implementation of state policy on providing state healthcare organizations.
2. Providing the population with medicines and medical products at the most affordable prices.
3. Reducing the cost of medicines and medical products purchased for state healthcare organizations through direct supply from manufacturers or distributors.

According to the local market regulator, the creation of Kyrgyzpharmacywill have a positive impact on the medicines market in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Dynamics of medicine Sales in Kazakhstan for the Period July 2023 - June 2024

Sales of medicines from July 2023 to June 2024 in Kazakhstan amounted to 1.1 trillion tenge (2.3 billion US dollars), with an increase of 16% in value and 2% in volume.

Top 3 companies by sales:

1. Santo
2. Nobel-Aff
3. Sanofi

Source: IQVIA Eurasia

The Rules For Circulation of Veterinary Medicines Will Change in the EAEU

New rules for circulation of veterinary medicines will come into force in the Eurasian Economic Union on March 13, namely:

1. The rules establish uniform procedures for registration of veterinary medicines and other procedures related to registration (confirmation of registration, MA variations, etc.); uniform requirements for their quality, effectiveness and safety, as well as criteria for their assessment; a uniform format for information interaction in the implementation of control and supervisory activities in the field of circulation of veterinary medicines.

2. During the transition period, registration of veterinary medicinal products and other related procedures may be carried out in accordance with the national legislation of a member state of the EAEU from the date of entry into force of the EAEU Rules and until December 31, 2027 for the circulation of such medicines only in the territory of this member state (MA of such veterinary medicinal products will be valid in the territory of the relevant state for the next 5 years).

3. Registration certificates (MAs) for veterinary medicines issued before March 13, 2024, shall be valid in the customs territory of the EAEU for the periods established in accordance with national legislation, but not later than December 31, 2027.

Veterinary Market of Russia and Kazakhstan in 2023

The Russian veterinary medicines market grew by 37% in 2023 and reached 97.7 billion rubles (1.1 billion US dollars). The share of Russian producers reached 46%.

The veterinary medicines market in Russia was 60.7 billion rubles in 2019 and 70.1 billion rubles in 2020. Stocky animals still account for 66% of the veterinary medicine market, which is 64.6 billion rubles, of which 33.9 billion rubles are imported and 30.7 billion rubles are domestically produced.

According to the company, the veterinary market of Kazakhstan reached 131 million US dollars, which accounts for 70% of imported drugs. There are 19 manufacturers of veterinary drugs in the country.

Total health spending represented 4.5% GDP in 2019.

The value of the local drug production for 6 months in Kazakhstan amounted to 87.3 billion tenge ($194.4 million).

Information about the Republic of Kazakhstan:

In the First Half of 2024, Foreign Drugs Supply to Kazakhstan Exceeded One Billion US Dollar

In January-June 2024, drug imports to Kazakhstan amounted to $1.06 billion according to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Top countries significantly contributed to the total value on the 1st ½ of 2024:

5.6 thousand MAs of medicines and APIs are registered in the republic, of which 1,686 are domestically produced: 1,578 are generic, 86 are original and 22 are innovative.

Source: National Agency of Investment and Privatization of the Republic of Belarus

Information about the Republic of Belarus:

International R&D and Manufacturing Company

"Our company has been working with Vladimir and his team at Russian Pharmalicensing Group , LLC and then Pharmalicensing One, LLC since 2015, and it’s been nothing short of transformative. When we were just starting in the CIS market nearly a decade ago, Vladimir guided us through launching new products and services in the region, and his advice on the regulatory landscape and market dynamics has been spot on. Thanks to his efforts, we’ve had a multitude of productive face-to-face meetings in the CIS and have successfully showcased our offerings at international exhibitions such as CPhI and ArabHealth. We continue to work with Vladimir to this day, trusting his advice on our five-year strategic plan."

Company with Operations Across EU, US, APAC, and ex-USSR

“Collaborating with Vladimir from Pharmalicensing One, LLC has been transformative to our business. His vast network in the industry is truly exceptional, leading to introductions to several key distributors across major markets in just a few months. What’s more, Vladimir’s deep understanding of the complex pharma landscape, combined with his knowledge of our product, resulted in strategic partnerships that have significantly expanded our market presence. His expertise in navigating regulatory channels has been, and continues to be, an indispensable asset for us. 
I strongly recommend Vladimir to any company looking to expand their licensing business or distributor and accelerate their growth in the pharmaceutical industry.”

Former Owner of a Pharmaceutical Plant

“I had the privilege of working with Vladimir when we were in a challenging situation, trying to sell a pharmaceutical plant in Russia that hadn’t been operational for over three years. Vladimir stepped in and worked wonders. The plant was in a tough spot – no employees, outstanding bank debt, and seemingly no future. Vladimir didn’t shy away from the challenge. He managed to negotiate favorable terms with the bank and find a strategic foreign investor willing to take on the project. His dedication and strategic thinking turned what seemed like an impossible situation into a success. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to help us through that process.”

EU Pharmaceutical R&D and Manufacturing Company

“I’ve been working with Vladimir and his team for a few years now, and I can say without hesitation that his expertise has been a huge asset to our company. Vladimir is a master at identifying the right licensing opportunities. With his help, we’ve successfully launched Rx medicinal products in the CIS that perfectly complement our existing portfolio. What’s more, his ongoing contributions to our Business Development operations are invaluable; he scouts target molecules and products globally, not only for the CIS but also for our EU markets. Vladimir doesn’t stop at finding opportunities; he makes sure everything is aligned with our business goals.”

Business Partner: Pharmaceutical Company with a Presence in Former USSR Republics

"We have been working with Vladimir’s Pharmalicensing Group, LLC, for the past five years, and it’s been an incredibly valuable partnership for our company. Thanks to Vladimir’s impressive global network, we’ve been able to access unique and high-impact licensing opportunities that were perfect for our markets in the former USSR. Because of this, we successfully licensed an Rx non-steroid pain relief medicine and a cosmetic product with a global patent. Even after the deal is closed, Vladimir is always there to help us navigate any issues that come up with suppliers or licensors.
If you’re looking for someone who is deeply invested in your success and who brings a fresh perspective to the table, Vladimir is the proven person you want on your side.”

Pharmaceutical Company with Global Operations

"Thanks to Vladimir’s extensive network in both the EU and ex-USSR pharmaceutical regions, we were able to successfully license our Rx hospital product to a top strategic partner across nine markets in the Balkans, CIS and Baltic states. His strategic approach and exceptional relationship-building skills allowed us to penetrate new markets and secure significant deals. Partnering with Vladimir has been one of the best strategic decisions we’ve made."