Russia spent about 1 billion rubles (11 million euros) from the federal budget on developing a domestic cure for impotence, but never achieved a result. This is according to a report by the Accounts Chamber, writes The Moscow Times.
According to the agency, the project, led by the Scientific Center for Biomedical Technologies of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency, received funding from 2017 to 2025.
It aimed to study the natural properties of musk deer musk — the secret of the deer's scent gland — and create new drugs based on it, specifically medications for correcting erectile dysfunction, increasing work capacity, treating traumatic brain injuries, and ischemic stroke.
The project envisioned building a nursery for breeding and keeping musk deer in Gorno-Altaysk, as well as a laboratory in the Krasnogorsk district of the Moscow region.
Initially, it was planned that the production of finished products would begin in 2020, but deadlines were constantly postponed.
For instance, the nursery was only put into operation in June 2024, and the construction of the laboratory, where the drugs were supposed to be developed, has not yet been completed. Meanwhile, the drug "Musculiv" for treating impotence was developed using raw materials purchased on the market, not obtained from the nursery. Clinical trials, in turn, were conducted in private medical institutions instead of state-owned ones.
As a result, the Scientific Center for Biomedical Technologies never created a closed production cycle for domestic drugs from musk deer musk. Instead of drugs, it released dietary supplements.
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