Materia Medica Holding

What Materia Medica Holding does

Materia Medica Holding is a privately held Russian pharmaceutical company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Moscow, operating as OOO «НПФ «МАТЕРИА МЕДИКА ХОЛДИНГ». The company develops, manufactures, and commercializes innovative drugs based on a proprietary release-active technology using ultra-low doses of antibodies to endogenous regulators — a novel drug class for which it holds 40+ patents including 5 US patents. Its portfolio spans over 30 products across OTC antivirals (Anaferon, Ergoferon, Raphamin), cough therapy (Rengalin), anxiolytics (Tenoten), nootropics (Prospekta, Divaza), erectile dysfunction (Impaza), diabetes (Subetta), veterinary, and cosmetics segments, with flagship products demonstrating clinical validation across 17-30 site studies and 622-8,411 patient trials.

The company operates a B2B2C model selling primarily through pharmacy chains (reaching approximately 90% of Russian pharmacies) and through a direct field sales force of medical representatives covering all Russian regions and ex-CIS markets. Manufacturing is centralized at a GMP-certified facility in Chelyabinsk with capacity for up to 1 billion tablets annually. Internationally, Materia Medica exports approximately 20% of production through representative offices in Kazakhstan and Vietnam and distribution partnerships covering 18 countries including CIS markets, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Mexico.

Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, but operational scale (40 million packs sold annually, 1,300+ employees, Top 10 Russian pharma ranking) places the company among the larger Russian pharmaceutical manufacturers. The firm has won consecutive industry awards including the Russian Government Prize for Science and Technology (2005, 2006), Green Cross pharmaceutical awards (2018-2023), and Brand No. 1 in Russia (2013-2022). Leadership comprises General Director Pavel Mikhailovich Baskakov and Scientific Director Oleg Ilyich Epshtein, a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Name

Materia Medica Holding

Legal name

OOO «NПФ «МАТЕРИА МЕДИКА ХОЛДИНГ»

Website

https://materiamedica.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Materia Medica Holding is a privately held Russian pharmaceutical company founded in 1992 that develops and manufactures innovative drugs based on proprietary release-active antibody technology, selling approximately 40 million packs annually across 18 countries through pharmacy chains and field medical representatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Release-active drugs
• Antiviral medications
• OTC pharmaceuticals
• Antibody therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Sale of innovative medicines (OTC and prescription), traditional medicines, veterinary products, and cosmetics through pharmacy chains and healthcare facilities in Russia and internationally.
2. International Licensing and Export: Products registered and marketed internationally in CIS countries, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mexico, and other markets. Export constitutes approximately 20% of total production.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Materia Medica Holding develops, manufactures, and distributes innovative pharmaceutical products based on its proprietary release-active drug technology using ultra-low doses of antibodies to endogenous regulators. The company produces over 30 medicines including OTC and prescription drugs, traditional medicines, veterinary products, and cosmetics, manufactured at its GMP-certified facility in Chelyabinsk and distributed through pharmacy chains, medical representatives, and international export channels across 18 countries.

Product overview

Materia Medica Holding is a Russian pharmaceutical company developing and manufacturing innovative drugs based on unique release-active technology. The company operates as a single unified product portfolio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core product portfolio includes four main innovative OTC medications: Raphamin® (antiviral with antibacterial effects for respiratory infections), Rengalin® (anti-cough medication), Ergoferon® (complex antiviral for adults and children), and Anaferon® for Children (antiviral for infants from 1 month). The company also offers prescription innovative medicines, traditional medications, veterinary products, and cosmetics. All products are developed using the company's proprietary release-active form technology and manufactured in compliance with GMP standards at their Chelyabinsk facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PRO-Start Science: Internship program for university graduates at Materia Medica Holding
• Raphamin
• Ergoferon
• Anaferon / Anaferon for Children
• Rengalin
• Tenoten / Tenoten for Children
• Subetta
• Prospekta
• Impaza
• Divaza

Products and services

• Raphamin® Antiviral drug with unique mechanism acting on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) type I and II molecules, combining antiviral and antibacterial effects for treatment of respiratory infections. Reduces duration of antibacterial therapy for pneumonia.
• Rengalin® Anti-cough medication with enhanced antitussive action for treatment of any type of cough, suitable from age 3. Based on release-active anti-bradykinin, anti-histamine and anti-morphine antibodies.
• Ergoferon® Complex antiviral drug for adults and children from 6 months with anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects. Composed of release-active anti-IFN-gamma, anti-histamine and anti-CD4 antibodies.
• Anaferon® for Children (Анаферон детский) Antiviral medication specifically developed for children from 1 month. Possesses interferon-inducing effect ensuring development of early and adequate immune response.
• Anaferon® (adult) Antiviral medication for adults based on release-active technology using antibodies to human interferon gamma; supported by U.S. patent and extensive clinical evidence including Pasteur Institute research.
• Tenoten® / Tenoten® for Children Anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) medication based on antibodies to S100 protein; recognized by Russian Government Prize in 2006 for development and introduction of selective anxiolytic into medical practice.
• Subetta® Drug for treatment of diabetes mellitus based on release-active antibody technology.
• Prospekta® Nootropic drug with normalizing effect, including updated indication for ADHD therapy in children over 7 years old.
• Impaza® Drug for treatment of erectile dysfunction based on release-active antibody technology; protected by U.S. patent granted in 2010.
• Divaza® Drug for treatment of cognitive disorders and asthenic conditions based on release-active antibody technology.
• Anooten® (veterinary) Veterinary application of the company's release-active technology for animal use, distributed through veterinary clinics and pharmacies.
• Traditional Medicines Portfolio Portfolio of traditional (non-innovative) medicines sold alongside the innovative product line, distributed through the same pharmacy chain and medical representative channels.
• Cosmetic Products Portfolio Cosmetic and personal care products sold as part of the company's broader consumer health portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Anaferon for children demonstrated antiviral activity non-inferior to Oseltamivir in preclinical studies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institute of Biomedical Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences (IMBP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2021Partner in SIRIUS-2021 space experiment - III stage of international project SIRIUS. The isolation experiment simulates lunar program including flight, landing, and return. Jointly conducted with NASA Human Research Program and space agencies of Russia, Germany, Canada.
• NASA Human Research ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner with IMBP in SIRIUS international isolation experiments studying human factors in long-duration space missions.
• Laboratory of Influenza under Pasteur Institute (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on antiviral activity of Anaferon for children; demonstrated efficacy against pandemic H1N1 influenza strains; synergistic effects with oseltamivir.
• APcis (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-clinical research on Anaferon for children demonstrating efficacy against influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N8 virus strains; showed combination therapy benefits with oseltamivir.
• Vietnam National Hospital of PediatricsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted first controlled clinical trials of Anaferon for children in Vietnam during monsoon season 2012; randomized comparative clinical-immunological trial.
• Research Institute of Pediatric Infections of Federal Medical and Biological Agency of RussiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative research on clinical and antiviral efficacy of Anaferon for children in children with influenza; study in 102 subjects comparing with Oseltamivir.
• State Scientific Centre for Virology and Biotechnology VectorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConfirmed Anaferon for children effectiveness against flu virus A (H1N1/09) through experimental research.
• European Respiratory SocietyminorOthersScientific presentation of Ergoferon and Anaferon for children efficacy data at annual congress; recognized effectiveness in children with bronchial asthma.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pharmstandard: Pharmstandard is the largest Russian pharmaceutical manufacturer by domestic market share, producing branded generics and OTC products across respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic therapy areas. Materia Medica competes for the same pharmacy shelf space and physician detailing attention in Russia.
• STADA Arzneimittel: STADA is a major European generics and OTC manufacturer with active CIS and Russian distribution operations through Nizhpharm. STADA competes for the same respiratory and consumer health demand that Materia Medica serves, and provides a useful benchmark for international expansion capability.
• KRKA: KRKA is a Slovenian pharmaceutical manufacturer with one of the strongest presences in the Russian and CIS markets for generic and OTC products. Materia Medica competes with KRKA's generics and consumer health portfolio for pharmacy shelf share in CIS jurisdictions.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: Teva is the world's largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with significant Russian and CIS operations. Materia Medica's branded respiratory and OTC products compete with Teva's regional portfolio for the same consumer and physician demand.

Direct peers

• Valenta Pharm: Valenta is a top-10 Russian pharmaceutical company specializing in branded OTC and Rx products, with comparable portfolio breadth across respiratory, neurological, and metabolic categories. Both companies compete for medical representative detailing access in Russia and CIS markets with similar product positioning.
• OTCPharm: OTCPharm is a Russian pharmaceutical company focused on OTC brands in respiratory, antiviral, and immune-support categories. Materia Medica's Anaferon and Ergoferon directly compete with OTCPharm brands like Ingavirin and Cycloferon for the same consumer and pharmacy-channel demand.
• Akrikhin: Akrikhin is a major Russian pharmaceutical manufacturer producing both generics and branded products with significant respiratory and OTC exposure. Comparable scale, similar manufacturing footprint, and overlapping therapeutic categories make it a direct operational and commercial peer.
• Vertex: Vertex is a Russian pharmaceutical manufacturer producing branded generics and innovative products with meaningful domestic market share. Comparable revenue tier and channel focus (pharmacy + medical representative) make Vertex a relevant operational benchmark for Materia Medica.

Regional players

• Biocad: Biocad is a leading Russian biotech focused on biosimilars and innovative biologics, headquartered in St. Petersburg. While Biocad is more weighted toward biologics than Materia Medica's release-active small molecules, both compete as 'innovative Russian pharma' alternatives within the same government R&D funding channels.

Emerging players

• Polysan Scientific and Technological Pharmaceutical Company: Polysan is a Russian pharmaceutical company specializing in innovative branded products in neurology, antivirals, and immunomodulators. Therapeutic-area overlap (notably antivirals) and similar mid-cap Russian pharma positioning make Polysan a close emerging peer for Materia Medica.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Materia Medica Holding