In an interview with The Voice of Vietnam, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre Alexey Ivanov shared key takeaways from discussions on global pharmaceutical security held during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025.
Ivanov emphasized that international cooperation remains a cornerstone of ensuring drug security. He underscored the importance of collaborative frameworks — particularly amid the current shortage of constructive global engagement — and stressed that such initiatives must cover the entire value chain, from drug development and production to distribution and market delivery, to ensure efficient market functioning.
"Markets, as institutions, are responsible not only for innovation but also for manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and trade," said Ivanov. "This comprehensive structure forms the basis of a functioning market economy. Centralized planning has, to some extent, discredited itself, making it necessary to rely on market mechanisms."
According to Ivanov, it is ultimately the market that guarantees pharmaceutical security — delivering essential medications at the right time and in the necessary volume. He also pointed to the ongoing cooperation within BRICS through the Working Group of Antimonopoly Authorities on competition analysis in pharmaceutical markets.
"Within this working group, we are engaged in in-depth discussions across all elements of the supply chain — from innovation to trade and distribution, and access to markets," Ivanov explained. "The SPIEF discussions this year focused primarily on regulatory aspects of market access."
He noted that the pharmaceutical sector is one of the most heavily regulated industries, with governments playing a crucial role in ensuring drug safety and efficacy. While administrative entry barriers are essential to prevent unsafe or substandard products from reaching consumers, Ivanov argued that such restrictions alone do not stimulate innovation or help bring new drugs to market.
At SPIEF 2025, international cooperation in regulatory alignment was a key topic, including proposals to reduce barriers and harmonize standards across BRICS countries. Ivanov described efforts to gradually integrate regulatory systems — starting with bilateral initiatives and moving toward multilateral cooperation — with the ultimate aim of creating a shared regulatory platform. In the long term, this could involve mutual recognition of registration documents and clinical trial data; in the short term, the focus is on improving transparency and standardization.
Research and development were also highlighted as critical components of the pharmaceutical industry. Ivanov stated that Russia's cooperation with BRICS partners is essential to energizing joint innovation efforts.
"The more partnership formats we have, the better," he said. "Within BRICS, we are working hand in hand to lower regulatory barriers and open markets. It's crucial not only to grant each other access to our pharmaceutical markets but also to launch joint research projects."
Ivanov believes that drugs developed through such collaborations will be introduced not only to the emerging BRICS-wide market but also to markets in developed countries, regardless of ongoing political tensions.
"People's health is undoubtedly more important than any political or other disagreements. When it comes to securing access to medicines and improving quality of life, economic and political barriers must be lowered and eventually removed,"
he concluded.
Recall that in June, as part of the SPIEF 2025, a session titled "Drug Security in a Global Context: Intensifying Cooperation", took place, moderated by Alexey Ivanov.
Participants discussed the development of a global drug safety system amid a changing geopolitical landscape, emphasizing the need for international cooperation, regulatory harmonization, and strengthening the role of interregional alliances.
Special attention was given to the challenges manufacturers face when entering international markets, as well as to creating conditions for mutually beneficial partnerships and expanding public access to modern medicines.
Source: VOV.VN
