NEARMEDIC - Russian pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical company founded in 1989 at the Gamaleya Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
Main business activities:
Pharmaceuticals:
Diagnostic kits
Laboratory equipment
Medical Service
NEARMEDIC was founded 20 years ago in 1989, by the group of like-minded researchers of the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. The objective of the new enterprise was to collect their research and development know-how and apply it to the introduction of products and services in diagnostics & pharmaceuticals for prevention and treatment of different infectious diseases.
The establishment and expansion of a diagnostic business allowed NEARMEDIC to support innovative and applied research in medical infectology and immunology during a period when state financing of science was at a low level.
The first significant area of NEARMEDIC business activity was the development, manufacture and introduction into medical practice the modern high quality diagnostic kits for laboratory diagnostics, for the most significant human infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, viral hepatitis, syphilis and other STI, TORCH-infections, etc.).
In 1998, NEARMEDIC started its first domestic production of highly standardized kits for the diagnosis of syphilis based on hemagglutination (TPHA) and rapid plasma reagents (RPR). NEARMEDIC also became the first domestic manufacturer of EIA screening kits for simultaneously detecting antigen and antibodies to HIV, which have been produced since 2002 under license from Abbott Diagnostics/Abbott Murex. In 2004, the company launched the production of tests for confirming seroconversion to HIV and hepatitis C virus, using Line Immune Assay technology (LIA) under license from Innogenetics (Belgium). Since 2009, NEARMEDIC has manufactured and supplied the Russian health care system with “RealTime HIV-1” kits for quantitative assessment of HIV viral load under license from Abbott Molecular.
NEARMEDIC responded to the need of the health care system for integrated supplies of modern laboratory instruments and techniques by establishing the department of microbiological laboratory equipment in 1996, which over the last decade has provided services on the complex equipping of laboratories with high-tech tools and devices, as well as their assembly, user-training, launch and follow-up maintenance. Within the National Priority Project “Health”, NEARMEDIC has ensured the rapid introduction into all AIDS centers of the country, modern molecular and genetic analysis methods, reagents, and automated equipment in collaboration with its international partners - Abbott Molecular, Applied Biosystems and Celera Diagnostic (USA). These innovations enabled physicians to access the results of the quantitative assessment of viral load (HIV, viral hepatitis B and C) and the detection of HIV genomic mutations conferring resistance to anti-retroviral drugs. A new direction of the NEARMEDIC laboratory equipment department is the provision of automated analyzers, reagents, comprehensive support and services in human genomic identification for forensic medicine.
The establishment and expansion of NEARMEDIC partnerships with the major international companies, the world leaders in diagnostic and laboratory business, is a challenging opportunity for the speedy introduction of emerging innovations to the Russian medical diagnostics market.
The NEARMEDIC pharmaceutical business is based on the successful R&D results of a new class of antiviral biotechnology – a mucosal surface acting inducer of interferon called Kagocel®, that is not absorbed from gastrointestinal tract so does not enter internal fluids of the body, making it non-toxic and safe. Kagocel® has a unique mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics due to it polymeric structure based on active molecules covalently linked to cellulose. The high efficacy of Kagocel® has been proved for treatment and prevention of influenza and ARVI in adults and children, as well as for treatment of herpes infection (including recurrent genital herpes). Kagocel® is registered in Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia. Kagocel® has been listed as non-prescription OTC-drug in Russia since 2005. In 2009, the drug was included by the Russian MOH and Social Development into its provisional guidelines for “Treatment and prevention of pandemic influenza virus A(H1N1) infection in adults” and into the Approved List of essential and the most important drugs within the system of state procurement.
NEARMEDIC also participated with BioPHARMAHOLDING in the development of an innovative collagenic implant material COLLOST® (native unreconstructed bovine collagen with fully preserved fibrous structure) applicable and broadly used in different medical specialities. Clinical trials on use of COLLOST® (membranes, powder and gel) in the treatment of slow-healing wounds (bedsores, trophic ulcers, diabetic foot) proved its remarkable efficacy. COLLOST® 7% and 15% gels are widely used in cosmetology and aesthetic medicine for treatment of atrophic scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, contour face plasty. NEARMEDIC is the official exclusive distributor of COLLOST®.products manufactured by BioPHARMAHOLDING.
In 1996 NEARMEDIC entered the private medical and clinical laboratory services business. At present, the medical and clinical laboratory services are represented by a chain of NEARMEDIC clinics in Moscow (one general multi-purpose clinic, two specialized clinics, two analysis collection points and an at-home analysis collection service). NEARMEDIC centralized clinical laboratory performs over a thousand different types of analyses (including unique and rare laboratory tests). The high quality of medical services provided by NEARMEDIC is ensured by the unified quality standards and equipping, by personal approach to each patient, by using innovative, precise, timely, quick and adequate diagnostics, and by strict follow-up with treatment. The basis of the demand of NEARMEDIC medical and laboratory services is the high professional level of the medical personnel and strict observance of all requirements for the provision of a high quality service to a patient.
All existing NEARMEDIC business activities – development, production and sales of diagnostic kits; complex supplies of laboratory equipment; development and manufacture of novel pharmaceutical products; provision of medical and clinical laboratory services to patients and the professional medical community – are directed at improving the quality of health care in Russia.
NEARMEDIC today is an innovative multi-field medical, biotechnological and pharmaceutical company proceeding with research and development, and extending socially-oriented business connected with recovery and improvement of nation’s health.