Johnson & Johnson and Pharmstandard have announced the signing of a memorandum on cooperation in the field of the innovations for diabetes management and localization of blood glucose monitor systems in the Russian Federation.

Today, Johnson & Johnson LLC and Pharmstandard JSC have signed a memorandum on cooperation in the development of strategies for diabetes management and localization of production processes for OneTouch® blood glucose monitor systems (LifeScan, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Group). 

As part of this agreement, the final production stages will be transferred to Pharmstandard and the manufacture of test strips for OneTouch® blood glucose monitor systems will be carried out. There will also be a joint elaboration of the possibilities of localizing other LifeScan products for diabetes management.

As the first steps of cooperation, the parties agreed to accomplish the following objectives on developing local competencies in the manufacture of OneTouch® test strips: contract production establishment, transfer of certain LifeScan technologies in production and quality control, promotion of Russian materials in manufacture, production certification in accordance with international standards. It is also planned to consider opportunities to export Russian products to the CIS markets.

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that the number of patients with diabetes mellitus in Russia is 10.9 million [1]. More than 66,000 patients die each year due to complications of the disease [2]. One of the key elements in preventing complications is regular control of blood glucose levels with self-monitor systems—glucometers and test strips.

The launch of first test strips for OneTouch® glucometers at Pharmstandard facilities is expected in the QIII 2015. At the same time, one of the production sites of Pharmstandard is expected to be registered as a secondary packaging, quality control and release site for the test strips.

Alexey Kataev, CEO of LifeScan, Russia and CIS, Johnson & Johnson LLC: ‘We are pleased to help improve the performance of Russian healthcare in cooperation with the Russian government and consider our support for the development of the Russian medical industry as a priority for our business in Russia. We are happy that thanks to our cooperation with Pharmstandard, our innovative products will become more accessible to Russian patients. Besides, we plan to share with them the information on best practices in diabetes management as well as develop and implement a number of educational initiatives to improve the skills of health care professionals in this field’.

‘Pharmstandard has proven to be a reliable partner due to the production level that meets the world quality standards. In recent years, we have been actively cooperating with the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical unit in manufacture of the innovative medicinal products in Russia. We are pleased to have the opportunity to expand our partnership through the joint production of medical devices. The line created under our agreement will be certified in accordance with international standards ISO 13485, which will allow us to speak of the top-quality production. Moreover and further on, we intend to work out opportunities to expand capacities to export Russian products to other markets’, said Vladimir Chupikov, CEO, Pharmstandard JSC.

About LifeScan (Johnson & Johnson LLC)

Guided by the principle of ‘creating a barrier-free world for people with diabetes’, LifeScan Inc. is a global leading manufacturer of blood glucose monitor systems. Over 15 million patients worldwide giving credence to their HCP's advice trust the accuracy and precision of OneTouch® products to help them manage diabetes. To learn more about diabetes, LifeScan products and services, visit www.lifescan.ru.

About Pharmstandard

Pharmstandard (www.pharmstd.com/ru) is a leading pharmaceutical company in Russia that develops and manufactures advanced and high-quality medicinal products that meet healthcare requirements and patient expectations.

The company's operational assets include 7 manufacturing sites for medicinal products located in Kursk, Ufa, Tomsk, Vladimir and Kharkov (Ukraine) as well as a plant for the production of medical equipment in Tyumen.

Shares and global depository receipts of Pharmstandard JSC are traded on the MICEX-RTS and LSE exchanges.

[1] IDF Diabetes Atlas, 6th edition, 2013.

[2] Dedov I. I., Shestakova M. V. Results of the Implementation of the Diabetes Mellitus Subprogramme of the Federal Target Programme “Prevention and Control of Socially Significant Diseases 2007–2012.” Diabetes Mellitus, 2013; Special edition 2013: 2–48.