Leading science and technology company Merck and Russian biopharmaceutical company Nanolek have celebrated the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership. Over this period, more than 10 billion tablets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes have been produced at the manufacturing site in the Kirov region.

“Ten years ago, we started with one belief: access to high-quality treatment is not a privilege. Today, more than 7 million Russians receive life-saving medicines produced here in Kirov every year, according to the same standards as at any Merck facility worldwide. Behind this figure are real people whose priority is simply to live. And it is for them that Merck has been working for 358 years,” said Natalia Dikanskaya, Healthcare Director of Merck in Russia and the CIS.

The cooperation between the two companies enabled the establishment of a full-cycle manufacturing facility in Kirov in strict compliance with global GMP standards — Good Manufacturing Practice regulations that ensure the consistent quality and safety of medicines. To launch the project, Merck carried out a full-cycle technology transfer, including analytical quality control methods and best practices in project management. Two solid dosage form production lines were built and launched from scratch.

The medicines localized at Nanolek’s biomedical complex are included in the Russian list of Vital and Essential Drugs (VED).

Evgeny Barinov, CEO of Nanolek, emphasized the project’s significance for the Russian pharmaceutical industry:

“The technology transfer from Merck was a deliberate choice in favor of building competencies, not just signing a contract to manufacture tablets. Ten years later, we have developed our own full-cycle expertise, employ 260 specialists, and operate a manufacturing facility integrated into the national healthcare supply system. This is what real localization looks like.”

In addition to advanced manufacturing technologies, the production site places strong emphasis on sustainability. The gradual transition to larger packaging formats and electronic document management has made it possible to prevent 250 tons of paper waste annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by 1,320 tons per year.