On November 26, the NovouralskMedsintez plant (the Sverdlovsk region, a part of the Yunona holding) launched a shop to produce genetic engineered insulin required by patients with diabetes mellitus. The company can enter the top 5 of the largest global manufacturers.

The production volume of genetically engineered human insulin (GEHI) will be 28.2 million bottles annually: 6.6 million by 5 ml and 21.6 million by 3 ml. According to Alexander Petrov, Chairman of the Yunona holding's Board of Directors, the capacity of the Novouralsk line will allow to gain about 30% of the domestic market.

The project for the production of GEHI finished forms in compliance with the international GMP standard has been implemented by Yunona since 2003 as part of the regional program named The Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry in the Sverdlovsk Region. The creation of the new workshop was financed with borrowed and own funds of the holding, as well as with subsidies from the regional budget. Total investments amount to 620 million roubles.

The number of patients with diabetes in Russia increases by 5 - 7% annually; the need for GEHI shows the same growth rate. According to the World Health Organization, by 2015, the incidence rate in Russia will approach the level of 5 million people. The Russian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers declared that the total insulin demand was 5.9 billion bottles in 2006.

Up to 97% of the Russian market's demand is satisfied by leading global manufacturers; the biggest domestic ones are Pharmstandard (Ufa Vitamin Plant) and RAS Moscow IBCh. In 2007, the import of GEHI to Russia will exceed 4.5 billion roubles. It is planned that prices for Medsintez insulin will be 20-30% lower than world prices. This will help reduce budget expenditures on such purchases by 800 million roubles.