‘We are not sure yet just when our insulin production will actually be launched,’ chairman of Novouralsk-based Medsintez Alexander Petrov announced at a press conference devoted to the prospective launch of Russia’s first insulin production facility.

‘The construction of the plant will probably have been completed by November 26, 2008. However, it’s a bit early to speak of the actual launch; insulin production is a science-intensive, computer-aided, robotic activity that needs much more research,’ he added.