Russia pledges financial support for Irkutsk innovation pharma cluster

The Russian Government is ready to support the development of a pharmaceutical cluster in Siberia?s Irkutsk region provided that the region itself puts up co-financing.

The Russian Government is ready to support the development of a pharmaceutical cluster in Siberia?s Irkutsk region, pharma news portal Remedium.ru reports. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev reportedly said that earlier this month at a meeting with regional United Russia party leaders. ?If you?re ready to invest, and ready to pursue it in earnest, we will make a supporting decision as we are committed to developing our own intellectual potential,? the premier said. Regional authorities have been vocal supporters of the pharma cluster idea for months. The local players to form such a cluster would be Pharmasintez, a local manufacturer of TB drugs, the Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry, Usolye-Sibirskoye Chempharm Factory, and some others. However, so far the Irkutsk region has not been included in any of the pertinent federal programs, including one for the development of 25 innovation regional clusters across Russia, or the $3+bn 2013-2020 pharma and medical sector development program...