Bryntsalov Makes Ready Ferein for Sale

Presidential candidate of 1996 and pharmaceutical mogul Vladimir Bryntsalov has launched the pre-sale preparation of Ferein, the fifth pharmaceutical enterprise of Russia, the Business newspaper reported.

The root cause of Ferein’s sale is the recent checks of the tax bodies, Business says, by results of which the company’s managers were accused of producing the fake medicine, including of famous brands of the West.

AFK Sistema is tipped as the most probable buyer of Ferein. Sistema declined to comment officially, but a source with it confirmed the talks with Vladimir Bryntsalov were underway.

Sistema that has bought out some pharmaceutical and medical assets this year intends to set up a pharmaceutical holding capable of developing, producing and selling both the original medicaments and generics.

The recent difficulties of Ferein are by far not the first clashes of the company with authorities. In 2001, for instance, the Health Ministry recalled its license for the haw tincture. Alcohol made up 70 percent of tincture’s content, Deputy Health Minister Anton Katlinsky said then.