biotechnology in Russia

biotechnology in Russia

Biology and biotechnology in Russia historically have been well-developed. Russia is a leading producer of immunobiological medications, veterinary products, and environmental protection technology, among others. Analytical instrument manufacturing is a growing field. There is also an increasing demand for Russian cell technologies, bioinformatics, post-genome technologies (proteomics, metabolomics), and nanotechnologies. These fields have grown in significance with the increasing global concern for biodiversity and bio-safety.

Russian government recognizes the need to improve legal and economic regulations related to biotechnologies. To integrate civil society into Russian State initiatives, a decision was recently made to develop a national program entitled “Biotechnological Development in Russia in 2006 – 2015.” The program aims to develop both governmental and non-governmental measures to create the environment necessary for further development of fundamental and applied biotechnology. The program will consist of eleven sub-programs, including Regional programs and special off-budget projects, and will support science centers, as well as regions focusing on biotechnology and biology.

Russia provides significant opportunities in manufacturing, research and development, and innovative biotechnologies. The physicochemical biology and biotechnology industries have numerous professional specialists, including over one thousand institutions and organizations that conduct research in this area. The emerging Russian biotech market is particularly strong in the following areas:

• Expression and purification of biologically active molecules and peptides;
• Open fermentation capacity at production scale, ready to contract;
• Original in-vivo and in-vitro methods of modeling a range of neurological disorders;
• State-of-the-art pilot scale drug manufacturing facilities;
• Plant cell culture scale-up and industrial production;
• Peroral, intranasal and aerosol drug delivery systems;
• Preclinical drug screening facilities operating according to GLP standards;
• SPF laboratory rodent breeding facility;
• Next generation vaccines, immunomodulators, and cytokines.