The Moscow City Department of Healthcare is claiming that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) has halted deliveries of Carboplatin, a generic cancer treatment, two weeks after the company reportedly halted deliveries of Copaxone in Russia. The department also claims that, in the past few months, Teva has only intermittently delivered various medications to Russia.
In a letter to Teva's Russian distributor, Biotek Interregional Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution Corporation, the Moscow Department of Healthcare states, "Late deliveries of medications will prevent reasonabe supply to some citizens who are eligible for government social assistance, which will disrupt treatment regimes and will jeopardize patients' health." The department warns that if this materializes, it will fine Biotek.
In a separate letter to Teva, the Nizhny Novgorod Region Ministry of Public Health states that, between July and October 2013, Teva's deliveries were 4-88% below what they should have been. The ministry demanded that Teva provide explanations for the halt in deliveries of the medications.
Both letters emphasized that the drugs were intended for patients eligible for government assistance under Russian federal law.
Biotek's attorney Krasik Averbuch Attorneys at Law partner Alexander Averbuch said, "The situation is definitely worrying, and we've asked Teva for clear answers on this matter."
Teva said in response, "Teva is committed to the Russian market and its patients, and continues to supply all its products to this market, as normal. There is no problem with Teva's relations with the Russian authorities."
Earlier this month, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) warned Teva to stop actions that have signs of violating the antimonopoly law, due to unilateral halts in deliveries of Copaxone in Russia. The FAS said that Teva's refusal to supply Copaxone is neither justified economically nor technologically. In this case too, Teva said, "Teva is fully committed to its patients in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. The supply of the medication in these countries has never been halted."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 30, 2013
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