Pfizer, Bayer To Continue Supplying Medicine To Russians

On February 24th, in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014, Russia launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine, sparking international uproar and receiving condemnation from top leaders, countries, and companies across the globe. Between sanctions and public outcry, roughly 300 corporations have severed ties with Russia or scaled back their business relationship to some degree in the three weeks after the invasion began. However, pharmaceutical corporations, including Pfizer and Bayer, maintain their medicines supply to Russia.

As Pfizer notes, “ending delivery of medicines, including cancer or cardiovascular therapies, would cause significant patient suffering and potential loss of life, particularly among children and elderly people.” Thus, while Pfizer has decided to refrain from starting new Russian clinical trials and to transition ongoing Russian clinical sites to other countries, it will continue to supply Russia with medicine. Furthermore, Bayer believes that withholding medical supplies from the Russian people would “only multiply the war’s ongoing toll on human life.” Refusing to provide Russians medicine would violate both a pharmaceutical company’s ethical obligation and its moral principles regarding putting the patient first. 

It is crucial that pharmaceutical companies continue supplying humanitarian aid for the people of Russia, as Russians should not be punished for the actions of an authoritarian leader who neither has good intentions nor tends to his citizens’ wellbeing. Ultimately, the Russo-Ukrainian war is Vladimir Putin’s war, and corporations must keep this in mind when serving patients. Putin’s calculations and horrendous acts against Ukraine do not reflect Russian society and its peoples’ beliefs.

However, it is also vital that Pfizer, Bayer, and other pharmaceutical companies continue to withdraw their industrial ventures and relations from Russia. This sends a clear message that they will not condone Putin’s aggressive, violent war tactics until peace or a cease-fire is established. Russia’s economy and access to resources will continue to suffer until that point.

According to Fierce Pharma, a multitude of firms and companies, including Nkarta, Ribiu, Blueprint, and BioMarin, have assembled a letter addressing Russia’s act of aggression and urging other industries to “cease involvement in Russian companies,” telling them to cut partnerships and refrain from new funds with Russia. But the group notably did not mention the provision essential supplies, such as medicine, among involvements which should stop. Additionally, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations maintains the position that medical supplies will continue to be sent and sold in both Ukraine and Russia, nations in which access to medicine has become challenging for the millions of lives who have been impacted by the violence. 

Although it is easy and has become quite popular in the media to villainize the Russian state, we must not attach Putin’s brutal behavior to the Russian people. Pfizer and Bayer’s decision to continue supplying medicine is correct, as the alternative would not be an effective jab at the Russian government. Rather, such a decision would merely harm vulnerable populations and citizens reliant on pharmaceuticals within the nation. 

Related