Russian hospitals have begun refusing to prescribe a drug containing mesna, a crucial medication used to prevent complications after chemotherapy, according to the organization Assistance to Sarcoma Patients, as reported by Izvestia and The Moscow Times.
The organization revealed that government purchases of mesna effectively stopped in December 2024, as no suppliers have submitted bids to participate in auctions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health estimates that the country's remaining stockpile will last for only 5.3 months, with hospitals having just 3.4 months' worth available.
“If a drug is unavailable at a specific medical facility, it can be redistributed,” the ministry noted.
No Alternative as Supplies Dwindle
According to Russia’s state register of medicines, mesna-based drugs are only registered under two companies: the Russian manufacturer Veropharm, which has discontinued production, and the American pharmaceutical company Baxter, which stopped supplying the drug in April 2023.
In April 2023, only 6,900 packages of Baxter's mesna drug entered the Russian market, a sharp drop from 56,700 the previous year, according to RNC Pharma.
Some 4,000 additional packages arrived in October 2024, but the American company has since ceased exports to Russia, Assistance to Sarcoma Patients confirmed.
Why Has Mesna Supply Stopped?
RNC Pharma Development Director Nikolai Bespalov suggests that the decision to halt supplies is driven by economic factors.
“Logistics and production costs are rising, but Baxter cannot increase the price in Russia, as mesna is classified as a vital and essential drug, meaning its price is state-regulated,” he explained.
Patients at Serious Risk
With no alternatives available, the situation is dire, warns Mikhail Maschan, Director of the Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at the Dmitry Rogachev Scientific and Medical Center.
“If mesna disappears completely, hundreds of patients will face severe complications and life-threatening risks,” he stated.
His concerns are echoed by Igor Utyashev, Director of Clinical Research at Medscan Group and head of the melanoma, skin tumors, and sarcoma unit at the Hadassah Oncology Institute.
“The absence of mesna is critical,” he emphasized. Sarcomas account for about 1% of all malignant tumors in Russia, with 5,000 to 6,000 new cases diagnosed annually.
Mesna-based drugs were flagged as defective in 2024, but domestic manufacturers are reportedly working on developing a new version, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
However, no details were provided regarding which companies are involved, and full production of the drug is not expected until 2027, the Ministry of Health confirmed.
