On June 17, 2026, OCT, a leading contract research organization in Russia and Eastern Europe, held the Russia-China Pharmaceutical Cooperation Forum for the fourth time, which successfully concluded in Shanghai. This year, the forum reached a new level, being held for the first time at CPHI China, the world's largest international pharmaceutical exhibition and business platform, bringing together manufacturers of pharmaceutical ingredients, finished dosage forms, equipment and packaging, as well as leading industry experts from around the globe.
For many years, the forum has been an authoritative platform for reinforcing cooperative ties between pharmaceutical companies from Russia and China. This year’s forum was no exception: a significant cooperation agreement in biotechnology was signed on the sidelines between Nanolek (Russia) and Alphamab (China), who agreed to jointly develop an innovative biotech product.
The sessions were moderated by Roman Ivanov, Chairman of the Academic Council of Sirius University and Director of the Scientific Center for Translational Medicine, and Kirill Kaem, member of the Academic Council of Skoltech.
Alla Trapkova, Deputy General Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products” (SCEEMP) of the Ministry of Health of Russia, elaborated in detail on Russia’s role as a reference state, the outcomes of the transition period, and the prospects for the development of the common pharmaceutical market of the EAEU. She emphasized that Russia has the most extensive expert and regulatory practice in the field of medicinal product registration, a strong laboratory base capable of controlling drugs of any level of complexity, including immunobiological and genetically engineered products. In addition, a high level of digitalization and active interaction with experts from other states through the Expert Coordination Council are important advantages. The statistics presented also confirm this status: Russia acted as a reference state more than 11,000 times; over the past year, 93% of reports were recognised in the country. Finally, the speaker outlined the plans for 2026.
“For manufacturers, the main advantage remains the possibility of a phased entry into several markets at once within a single regulatory model,” summarised Alla Trapkova. “However, market participants need to take into account that regulation within the EAEU requires careful preparation of the registration dossier and building a long‑term strategy for working in the Union’s space.”
Vitaliy Omelyanovskiy, representing the Center for Healthcare Quality Assessment and Control of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, detailed the requirements for including innovative drugs in the Russian Vital and Essential Drugs List (VED), as well as the criteria for including medicines in clinical guidelines. He also explained the mechanism of “special significance” of a drug, which helps improve access to innovations, and touched upon the features of accelerated registration within the EAEU. Particular attention was paid to orphan diseases, specifically the analysis of clinical efficacy and safety evidence for drugs proposed for procurement through the “Circle of Good” fund.
A representative of the Chinese regulator, Jie Li, Chair of CMAC Policy and Regulatory Working Group, spoke about measures to stimulate global simultaneous R&D with Russia’s participation, including the issuance of a series of guidelines since 2015 to reduce redundant trials, as well as the possibility for foreign pharmaceutical companies to conduct multi‑center clinical trials from Phase I to Phase III without prior requirements. She also noted that in 2025‑2026, drugs under multi‑regional clinical trials and innovative new drugs have gained access to a 30‑day expedited review pathway, and the submission of multi‑center trial data involving Russian sites is explicitly encouraged.
The second session focused on practical cases of cooperation, clinical trials, and market access, bringing together representatives of leading pharmaceutical companies from Russia and China.
Frank Wu, an honorary industry expert, noted that the strategic relationship between Russia and China provides excellent opportunities for mutual pharmaceutical cooperation: China has achieved a leading position in pharmaceutical innovation, offering affordable solutions for unmet clinical needs, while Russia has a strong local industry and significant market potential. The speaker emphasized the importance of technology transfer and the role of Russian CROs, in particular the company OCT, citing the successful completion of a Phase III head‑to‑head trial for a biosimilar in Russia, which saves time and costs when registering drugs in both countries.
Eugenia Radkova, Head of MedSci Consulting and Excellence at OCT, the leading contract research organization in Russia and Eastern Europe, presented Russia as one of the leading centres for oncology clinical research. She cited statistics: about 700,000 new cancer cases are registered annually in the country, and approximately 4.4 million cancer patients receive follow‑up and medical care. The speaker emphasised that Russia has accumulated experience across all phases (I–IV) and a wide range of indications.
“Russia is one of the world leaders in patient enrollment rates in oncology multicenter clinical trials. We work across all phases and in compliance with the latest GCP standards, ensuring quality at the international level. About 4.4 million cancer patients receive follow‑up and medical care in Russia, making innovative therapies in high demand both for treatment‑naive patients and for those who have exhausted all lines of therapy. More than 80 experienced research centers, a well‑developed vendor ecosystem, and relatively short timelines for obtaining study approvals form a solid foundation for clinical research in our country,” noted Eugenia Radkova.
Participants highly appreciated the rich programme, the practical value of the presentations, and the open dialogue between regulators, industry experts, and the business community. The audience showed particular interest in concrete tools for overcoming regulatory barriers and strategies for entering the EAEU and Chinese markets. The successful conduct of the 2026 Forum confirmed the commitment of Russia and China to further develop mutually beneficial cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. The general partners of the event this year were Petrovax and Promomed.
About OCT:
OCT is a leading contract research organization providing clinical trial services in Russia and the EAEU countries. Founded in 2005, the company has completed over 400 successful projects, including Phase I–IV and bioequivalence studies in therapeutic areas such as oncology and infectious diseases. The company employs over 200 professionals and has offices in Moscow, Beijing, and other cities.
For media inquiries: pr@oct-cro.com
