Bayer HealthCare and Russian drug manufacturer Medsintez have entered into a strategic partnership to jointly manufacture and commercialise diagnostic imaging products as well as pharmaceuticals to treat infections and neural disorders.

In addition, the companies intend to cooperate in the research, development and production of new substances and medicines, aiming to accelerate the access to innovative pharmaceuticals for Russian patients. Joint marketing activities are scheduled to start in 2013.

“The local production of our products will provide additional momentum to our business development in this growth market,” said Andreas Fibig, president of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. “It will ultimately serve our customers, patients and doctors in Russia and thus strengthen our competitive position.”

Bayer HealthCare and Medsintez will start their cooperation with the full cycle manufacturing of the antiinfectives Avelox and Ciprobay, diagnostic imaging products, as well as Nimotop for treatment of neural disorders in existing as well as new facilities which will be built according to latest Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements.

“Medsintez and Bayer HealthCare will provide top quality products to the market, according to international standards”, said Alexey Podkorytov, CEO of Medsintez. “In addition, the future research partnership with Bayer HealthCare will allow us to launch new drugs based on molecules developed by Russian research organizations to the international market.”

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials.

Medsintez, located in the Sverdlovsk region of Russia, is a Russian company, with business interests in the fields of production of medical equipment and devices, as well as pharmaceuticals.