Investment project by Petrovax Pharm for market launch of Areima^® wins industry award

The Russian biopharmaceutical company Petrovax Pharm has won the "Vedomosti Impulse" Award for the most significant investment projects contributing to Russia’s development. In the "Nation’s Health" category, the winning project was the localization of the immuno-oncology drug Areima^® (INN: camrelizumab). The award ceremony took place on December 5 in Moscow.

The goal of the Vedomosti Impulse Award is to stimulate the investment market and recognize major cross-sector projects of national significance.

Access to innovative cancer treatments is one of the key factors in reducing mortality from malignant neoplasms. The project aimed at launching Areima^® began in 2023, and just two years later, for the first time, Russian patients with nasopharyngeal cancer gained access to immuno-oncology treatment. Prior to this, chemotherapy had remained the only treatment option for this indication^{[2], [3]}.

The total amount of investment in the camrelizumab localization project exceeded 2 billion rubles. Localization of the active pharmaceutical ingredient is being carried out in partnership with the N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology. The product has been recommended for inclusion in the list of vital and essential medicines (Esential Drug List, EDL) and in clinical guidelines for a number of oncology indications^{[4], [5]}. In addition, it has been included in RUSSCO (Russian Society of Clinical Oncology) practical guidelines^[6] as a first-line and subsequent-line treatment option for esophageal cancer, as well as the preferred first-line treatment regimen for nasopharyngeal cancer^[7]. Petrovax Pharm continues to explore additional therapeutic opportunities for the medicine. In particular, together with the Gamaleya Center, the company is involved in the development of an mRNA-based technological platform for developing combination treatments across oncology indications^[8].

Background Information

Areima^® (camrelizumab) is an immuno-oncology medicine approved in Russia for the treatment of: locally advanced and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin, and recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine. Camrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the PD-1 receptor, which reactivates tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells and stimulates antitumor immunity. The drug has been studied in more than 33 clinical trials, including in Russia^{[9], [10]}. Clinical practice includes over 300,000 patients treated with camrelizumab worldwide.

The annual Vedomosti Impulse Award is a professional prize recognizing the most significant investment projects that shape the new trajectory of Russia’s development, as well as outstanding management teams demonstrating effective investment leadership. The purpose of the Award is to stimulate the investment market and honor the most impactful projects that set industry development trends, strengthen Russia’s global standing, and create a platform for exchanging experience and consolidating the professional community of initiators, investors, and operators of major investment projects. It also highlights the socio-economic, technological, environmental, and other results achieved through the implementation of large-scale investment initiatives.