Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1169
2007-10-31 08:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: ELI LILLY RE-ENTERS MARKET WITH
how-toVZCZCXRO3853 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHAH #1169 3040855 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 310855Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9620 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2920 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0740 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0616 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1193 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001169
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD TBIO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ELI LILLY RE-ENTERS MARKET WITH
DIABETES AND CANCER DRUGS
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001169
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD TBIO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ELI LILLY RE-ENTERS MARKET WITH
DIABETES AND CANCER DRUGS
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: After a seven-year absence from the
Turkmenistani market, U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is
re-engaging, initially with diabetes and cancer medications.
Their registration process is underway, and they are working
with the Ministry of Healthcare on capacity building to
ensure a successful start. Given that the individual who
heads the government's diabetes center will be the company's
part time consultant, it is likely the company will be able
to market to government healthcare facilities. END SUMMARY.
LILLY'S PLANS IN TURKMENISTAN
2. (SBU) Eli Lilly Vostok S.A. has decided to re-enter the
market here and has initiated the registration process to
market its diabetes and cancer treatment medications. The
company recently won a tender for diabetes treatment
products, based on price. However, because the company has
not been active in Turkmenistan, the Ministry subsequently
gave the tender to Novartis. Lilly was active in the market
here until 2000, but pulled out because of unspecified
financial difficulties -- possibly related to the difficult
business environment, including the dual exchange rate and
problems repatriating profits.
LIKE MANY OTHERS, INTRODUCING THEMSELVES THROUGH CAPACITY
BUILDING
3. (C) Lilly's Almaty office sponsored a one-day conference
organized by the Ministry of Healthcare, "Current Problems in
Endocrinology and Oncology," for researchers and
practitioners in Ashgabat on October 29. The conference
featured Kazakhstani diabetes and cancer specialists. The
Head of the Representational Office for Central Asia and
Caucasus Gulzhahan Shamshatova and Regional Sales Director
Arman Kabdolov said they were not planning to open a
representational office in Ashgabat. Instead, Healthcare
Ministry Endocrinology Specialist Ogulsona Babayeva, who
heads the government's diabetes center, will be the company's
part time consultant. Babayeva indicated that the Ministry
would purchase Lilly's diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis, and
mental-disorder treatment pharmaceuticals. Shamshatova plans
to return to Ashgabat in January, and a sales representative
residing in Kyrgyzstan will visit more frequently.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Lilly representatives seem to feel the
time is right to re-enter the Turkmenistan market and will
test it initially with two pharmaceutical categories that are
likely to be most in demand. With access to a contact in the
Healthcare Ministry, the company may be focused on
pharmaceutical sales to government healthcare facilities.
Given the largely state-controlled healthcare system here,
the more interesting questions are whether the company will
be able to make a profit, and whether they will be permitted
to market their products to the small community of private
health-care providers. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD TBIO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ELI LILLY RE-ENTERS MARKET WITH
DIABETES AND CANCER DRUGS
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: After a seven-year absence from the
Turkmenistani market, U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is
re-engaging, initially with diabetes and cancer medications.
Their registration process is underway, and they are working
with the Ministry of Healthcare on capacity building to
ensure a successful start. Given that the individual who
heads the government's diabetes center will be the company's
part time consultant, it is likely the company will be able
to market to government healthcare facilities. END SUMMARY.
LILLY'S PLANS IN TURKMENISTAN
2. (SBU) Eli Lilly Vostok S.A. has decided to re-enter the
market here and has initiated the registration process to
market its diabetes and cancer treatment medications. The
company recently won a tender for diabetes treatment
products, based on price. However, because the company has
not been active in Turkmenistan, the Ministry subsequently
gave the tender to Novartis. Lilly was active in the market
here until 2000, but pulled out because of unspecified
financial difficulties -- possibly related to the difficult
business environment, including the dual exchange rate and
problems repatriating profits.
LIKE MANY OTHERS, INTRODUCING THEMSELVES THROUGH CAPACITY
BUILDING
3. (C) Lilly's Almaty office sponsored a one-day conference
organized by the Ministry of Healthcare, "Current Problems in
Endocrinology and Oncology," for researchers and
practitioners in Ashgabat on October 29. The conference
featured Kazakhstani diabetes and cancer specialists. The
Head of the Representational Office for Central Asia and
Caucasus Gulzhahan Shamshatova and Regional Sales Director
Arman Kabdolov said they were not planning to open a
representational office in Ashgabat. Instead, Healthcare
Ministry Endocrinology Specialist Ogulsona Babayeva, who
heads the government's diabetes center, will be the company's
part time consultant. Babayeva indicated that the Ministry
would purchase Lilly's diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis, and
mental-disorder treatment pharmaceuticals. Shamshatova plans
to return to Ashgabat in January, and a sales representative
residing in Kyrgyzstan will visit more frequently.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Lilly representatives seem to feel the
time is right to re-enter the Turkmenistan market and will
test it initially with two pharmaceutical categories that are
likely to be most in demand. With access to a contact in the
Healthcare Ministry, the company may be focused on
pharmaceutical sales to government healthcare facilities.
Given the largely state-controlled healthcare system here,
the more interesting questions are whether the company will
be able to make a profit, and whether they will be permitted
to market their products to the small community of private
health-care providers. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND