US drug-maker Lilly said it will send medicines for urgent medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes.US drug-maker Lilly said it will send medicines for urgent medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes.
It is suspending sales of what it called “non-essential medicines” as well as all investments and promotions.Swiss drug-maker Novartis also said it would stop investments, marketing activities there and all scientific events organized by the company or external parties in Russia. Johnson & Johnson Inc said it was stopping enrollment in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus as well as any openings of new sites, but was committed to providing essential health products.
“While it is good to see large corporations, including in the pharmaceutical space, take a proactive stand against conflict and aggression, any step to suspend medical supplies, even for non-essential items, could end up putting the health of patients in Russia at risk,” said Anant Bhan, a global health and bioethics researcher.