Russian Pharma Turns to Domestic Software After Exit of Western Tech Suppliers

As Western software vendors exited the Russian market, pharmaceutical companies accelerated the transition to homegrown IT systems—often finding them superior.

Over the past three years, digital self-reliance has become a defining trend across Russian industries, and the pharmaceutical sector is no exception. With the departure of Western tech providers, domestic IT adoption is accelerating.

According to Nikita Kuzmichov, business tools improvement manager at pharmaceutical firm Alcea, the pivot was driven by both urgency and opportunity. Specialized software solutions are critical for pharma companies—covering everything from drug labeling and production control to clinical trials and inventory management.

Government incentives have helped speed the development of Russian alternatives to fill the void left by international providers. Alcea, for example, began shifting to domestic software solutions even before sanctions were imposed.

“Since 2022, our entire IT infrastructure has transitioned to Russian platforms,” Kuzmichov said. “We managed a smooth switchover without downtime or process gaps.”