Lilly, Novartis join drugmakers in scaling back operations in Russia, 15 March 2022

A growing number of drugmakers including Eli Lilly and Co, Novartis and Abbvie Inc are scaling back business in Russia after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, but still pledge to continue supplying critical medicines.

U.S. drugmaker 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. It also will not start any new clinical trials there.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis also said it would stop investments, marketing activities there and all scientific events organized by the company or external parties in Russia.

U.S. drugmaker AbbVie...said it has temporarily suspended operations for all its aesthetics products in the country.

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.

...Pfizer Inc, Germany's Bayer and Abbott Laboratories had pulled back from non-essential spending in the country. Pfizer and Bayer said they would maintain a supply of medicines to Russia.

Western companies have come under pressure to leave Russia, but the healthcare sector has not pulled out because medicine and medical devices and equipment are considered necessary for humanitarian reasons and are excluded from sanctions...