At Bioprom-2025, Pharmasyntez-Medtech, a top manufacturer of medical devices, and SIBUR, a leading producer of advanced synthetic materials in Russia, signed a cooperation agreement to advance the production and processing of polymers used in dialyzer manufacturing.

The agreement provides for collaborative efforts to develop and scale production technologies for grades of polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, and polysulfone, which are important polymers used in the manufacturing of membrane fibers for dialysis equipment.

Historically, imports from Europe and Japan have been the only sources of the Russian hemodialysis market. The main method of producing dialyzers is assembly with imported membrane fibers, which is then sterilized. The cost of consumables has significantly increased and there are fewer options for procurement due to the volatility of foreign currencies relative to the ruble and current logistical challenges.

In order to lessen reliance on imports, Pharmasyntez-Medtech intends to establish Russia's first production facility for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis supplies and equipment in Kaluga in 2026. Pharmasyntez and SIBUR agreed in 2024 to provide polypropylene and polyethylene to the new production facility. This year, SIBUR has created a unique grade of polycarbonate that is radiation sterilization compatible for the production of dialyzer housings.

The companies will also explore the possibility of working together to test polysulfones and polyethersulfones resistant to steam and radiation sterilization in laboratories and pilot industries, followed by certification and technology scaling.

Nikolai Panikarovsky, CEO of Pharmasyntez-Medtech:

The Pharmasyntez Group and SIBUR will carry out research and development to create premium membranes using Russian raw materials. European and Japanese companies are the world's leading producers of these materials. Russia will become one of only four countries in the world completely independent of foreign components if we establish our own raw material base and localize production.