Dmitry Zemskov: Biochemist is confident in the quality of his drugs

Interview of Dmitry Zemskov, Executive Director of JSC Biochemik, to the magazine "Actual Problems of International Humanitarian Law and Mass Media".

This year, Biochemist Joint Stock Company celebrates its 60th anniversary. The plant is one of the largest pharmaceutical enterprises in Russia, part of the PROMOMED Group of Companies. Its nomenclature portfolio includes more than 150 names of medicines, 80% of which are vital.

Dmitry Nikolaevich Zemskov, Executive Director of Biochemik JSC, told our correspondents about the breakthrough made by the company and about plans for the future.

- Dmitry Nikolaevich, the history of Biochemist has been going on for 60 years. What is the factory proud of?

- Indeed, this year is an anniversary year for our company. Biochemist was built in 1959 and was rightfully considered the flagship of the pharmaceutical industry during the Soviet period. The first penicillin antibiotics were produced here, as well as products for the further synthesis of various groups of drugs. As Promomed company, we joined the plant in 2015 and since then we have been modernizing and developing this enterprise in accordance with all modern requirements. The development of an antibacterial program was identified as one of the main areas of activity. In 2018, we launched the production of the latest generation of antibiotics using the full cycle method. This means that we were the first in Russia to start producing strategic drugs not from imported components, we produce domestic antibiotics developed from the molecule to the final product on our own premises by our specialists.

- What other areas is Biochemist engaged in?

- At the moment, the plant produces more than 100 names of medicines of all forms: tablets, capsules, suppositories and ointments, solutions and ampoules ... The plant's product line is wide, but we don't want to stop there. Now, for example, a workshop for the production of pharmaceutical substances has been opened, a capsule production workshop has been modernized and launched. In addition, a workshop for the production of drugs for oncology therapy has been established.

- The country's antibacterial defense is associated with the advent of penicillin. Biochemist produced it from 1959 to 2015. This drug was included in the main Russian state reserve. Are the drugs produced today at Biochemistry capable of meeting the medicinal needs of the Russian Reserve, as well as the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation?

- At the moment, we produce more than 10 types of antibiotics that can participate in the reserve. Among them is Vancomycin, which is original and is manufactured at the factory from molecule to vial. It is special: it works when other drugs that are familiar to us, such as penicillin antibiotics, do not work. In addition, we produce solutions "Rheopoliglyukin" and "Polyglyukin" (these blood substitutes are a registered trademark of the Biochemist plant), which are also original.

Last year, Biochemik produced more than 30 million vials of antibiotics, although it has facilities capable of producing three times as many drugs. That is, for the needs of the state reserve, we can increase production and provide the country with affordable medicines.

- What properties does "Vancomycin" have? Is it possible to use it in the field of military medicine?

- There is no bacterial resistance to Vancomycin, so the drug works when Ceftriaxone, Cefazolin, etc. fail. It is a universal antibiotic with a wide range of uses, which can and should be used in the practice of military medicine.

It should be understood that military medicine is fundamentally different from civilian medicine, because we mainly deal with wounds of the abdominal cavity, limbs, and traumatic amputations. Antibiotics play one of the main roles here to ensure a good prognosis of survival and recovery. For example, during the Second World War, when penicillin antibiotics were not yet used, mortality was much higher. People did not die from the wounds themselves, but from postoperative complications. Even today, no one has canceled the so-called golden hour rule.: 99% of wounds received on the battlefield will result in a successful therapeutic outcome if the wounded person is taken to the hospital within the first hour. Antibiotics will eliminate possible sepsis, gangrenous complications and internal abscesses.  In military medicine, timely initiation of antibiotic therapy and selection of an effective drug are very important. For such purposes, Biochemist produces cephalosporin-type drugs, the already mentioned Vancomycin. Glycopeptide-type drugs are currently being implemented. These latest antibiotics can be used to treat postoperative patients.

- What other drugs produced at the enterprise, besides antibacterial ones, can be used for wounds?

- Well-known sodium chloride, which is used in the treatment of emergency conditions. As well as cardiopreparations for neurology.

- Can the drugs produced by Biochemist be used in humanitarian operations outside the Russian Federation, for example, to provide assistance to the civilian population of a country affected by emergencies? Is it possible to purchase them by the medical service of the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for these purposes?

- Biochemik's products are used outside the Russian Federation. We supply it to some neighboring countries. Our drugs are available, so their use is economically effective. We are ready to supply cheap and effective medicines for disaster medicine. We are confident in the quality of our medicines. It is confirmed by long-term presence on the market, licensing documentation and those standards that are implemented at the enterprise.

Recorded by Alexey Zheludov,

Valeria Kozlova