The production of mesna cancer drug is planned to be established in the Russian Federation by 2027

In Russia, cancer patients were no longer prescribed a drug with the active ingredient mesna, the patient organization Assistance to Sarcoma Patients told Izvestia. While the situation is not widespread, there have been refusals to prescribe the drug in a number of medical institutions, but there are more and more such cases, they stressed.

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Mesna is used to prevent complications that occur in patients with chemotherapy, in particular in treatment regimens for bone and soft tissue sarcomas in adults and children. Mesna has no analogues — this is a serious problem, said Mikhail Maschan, Director of the Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at the Rogachev Scientific Medical Center.

"The drug is used to prevent hemorrhagic cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder in which blood appears in the urine. In the complete absence of mesna, hundreds of patients will face severe complications and life—threatening conditions," he said.The Ministry of Health reported that mesna was included in the roadmap for the localization of production in the country, and added, with reference to the Moscow Endocrine Plant, that preparations are underway for the registration of a drug based on this active substance.

According to the Ministry of Health, the production of the drug is planned for 2027. There will be enough supplies of mesna—based drugs in the country for 5.3 months, in particular in medical organizations — for 3.4 months, and in pharmacies - for 17.9.