Doing The Right Thing: Shutting Off New Investments; Shipping Only Essential Medicines To Russia During Putin's Invasion Of Ukraine...

This has been a delicate balance, forever (or, at least since WW I). The people of Russia, by and large, both cannot "unelect" Putin, cannot stop the invasion, and (I suspect) don't fully support the atrocities. So -- providing the ordinary people of Russia with life-saving medicines. . . still seems a noble cause.

Obviously, providing all the possible aid we can to Ukrainians trapped in subway tunnels and other bunkers is Priority One -- including much needed public health goods, and ordinary drugs -- like insulin, antibiotics, vaccines and plasma. So it is, this past week that essentially all major pharmas have taken that "two stepped" approach to trading with Russia:

. . .One day after Pfizer announced it was halting its business practices within Russia, AbbVie, Abbott, Novartis, Merck and Eli Lilly have followed suit. This morning, Merck announced plans to halt all investments made in Russia in protest of the invasion. Like Pfizer and other companies, the pharma giant would continue to supply life-saving medications in support of ongoing humanitarian efforts. According to Reuters, which was the first to report Merck’s decision, the company noted that it sent 135,000 courses of its antiviral COVID-19 pill, molnupiravir, to Ukraine under a supply agreement previously struck with that government. . . .

There are increasing concerns of an outbreak of the virus in Ukraine due to the close proximity of people sheltering in bunkers to avoid Russian artillery. . . .

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly announced it was suspending sales of “non-essential medicines” within Russia, according to Reuters. The company, however, will continue to send drugs developed for cancer and diabetes to the country. . . .

We look forward to an excellent week -- and some additional Cinderella dancing, with lil' St. Peter's. Grin. . . .

नमस्ते