Peter Bely at the Healthy Society Forum: affordable diabetes and weight control for millions of patients

Peter Bely, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC PROMOMED, spoke at the Healthy Society forum in the session "Diabetes under Control: Modern Solutions for Patients". In his speech, Peter Alexandrovich outlined the course of the Russian pharmaceutical industry in the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders. According to him, the pharmaceutical industry should supply the healthcare system not just with medicines, but with the most advanced solutions that change practice.

Speaking about diabetes, the speaker recalled that there is often a predictable chain behind the diagnosis — overeating, overweight, obesity and, as the first stage of the problem, insulin resistance. That is why the breakthrough of recent years — incretin approaches — is important not only for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but also for the prevention of the disease. Incretin solutions include DPP‑4 inhibitors (gliptins), SGLT2 inhibitors (gliflozines), and GLP‑1 receptor agonists, which have actually revolutionized therapy. "Our goal is to offer patients cutting—edge solutions and make them as accessible as possible", — he emphasized.

Petr Bely described in detail how the industry and the state worked synchronously after the withdrawal of the original GLP‑1 drug for the treatment of DM2 from the market: a special legal mechanism for accelerated substitution was created, the Ministry of Health promptly supported the process, and manufacturers, together with the medical community, conducted the necessary research. In a matter of months, the need was closed. The next step was to expand the use of incretin therapy for people with an increased body mass index as a tool for early prevention of diabetes and reduction of associated risks: cardiovascular, oncological, musculoskeletal, as well as reproductive and sexual health problems. "We are conducting major joint programs with relevant research centers and key specialists to confirm and scale this prevention effect.", — said Peter Alexandrovich.

A separate focus is on new generation drugs. Double agonists of GLP-1, such as tirzepatide, allow weight loss mainly due to fat mass.: "With double agonists, we see a qualitatively different profile — weight goes away due to fat, muscles are preserved", — the speaker notes. Innovation concerns not only molecules, but also forms of delivery. Petr Bely emphasized the advantages of disposable autoinjectors without preservatives over reusable pens: fewer patient errors, no contact with preservatives, and a "clean" solution of the active substance.

Accessibility is equally important. Localization and expansion of production in Russia have already significantly reduced the cost of monthly therapy compared to prices in mature foreign markets, and this bar continues to fall. The ambition is to make regular weight and metabolic health monitoring as familiar and accessible as the basic elements of daily hygiene.

Peter Alexandrovich shared PROMOMED's plans to develop triple agonists, which are expected to help not only prevent the transition from prediabetes to diabetes, but also add energy to the patient due to the specific effects of glucagon. "This is a wellness drug for every day, while the metabolic protection remains reliable", — the speaker described the prospect, emphasizing that large-scale research within the strict framework of evidence-based medicine will be required to make such decisions.

Concluding his speech, Peter Bely returned to the topic of the forum — a healthy society as a strategic goal. We are not talking about the disparate treatment of individual diagnoses, but about prolonging a healthy life. Incretin technologies, according to him, are a rare example of pharmaceutical solutions that can affect the actual duration and, more importantly, the quality of life. "Our goal is to turn scientific results into new medicines that make people not only healthy, but also beautiful and happy.", — he said, thanking the doctors and the audience for their partnership and trust.