Geopolitics Alpha

Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West

Published . Updated .

Key takeaways

  • Despite President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions for industrial sovereignty, almost five years after the start of the war in Ukraine imported medicines still account for more than half of Russia's expenditure…
  • Exposed: XLV, XBI, LLY, JNJ, PFE
  • Market reaction: price tracking starts with the next trading session.

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Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West

Despite President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions for industrial sovereignty, almost five years after the start of the war in Ukraine imported medicines still account for more than half of Russia's expenditure…

Directly affected

  • No company is named in this report.

Indirectly affected

  • XLV Health Care Select Sector SPDR

    Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story.

  • XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

    SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story.

  • USO United States Oil Fund-1.1% 30d

    United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “russia” (oil) in this story.

  • UNG United States Natural Gas Fund-13.5% 30d

    United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “russia” (natural gas) in this story.

  • LLY Eli Lilly and+25.1% 30d

    Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story.

  • JNJ Johnson & Johnson+12.1% 30d

    Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story.

  • PFE Pfizer+5.2% 30d

    Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story.

  • MRK Merck+3.5% 30d

    Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story.

Price reaction, T-5 to T+3

TickerT-5T-3T-1T0T+1T+2T+3
XLV-0.28%+0.04%baseafter closeafter closeafter closeafter close
XBI+4.20%+3.78%baseafter closeafter closeafter closeafter close
USONo price data for this ticker———————
UNGNo price data for this ticker———————
LLY-2.25%-0.49%baseafter closeafter closeafter closeafter close
JNJ-1.35%-1.97%baseafter closeafter closeafter closeafter close
PFE+1.19%+1.90%baseafter closeafter closeafter closeafter close
MRK+0.65%-0.38%baseafter closeafter closeafter closeafter close

Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.

Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West RFI

Source: RFI

Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)

Those 3 earlier stories put Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) at an average move of -0.15% the next day. Largest gain -0.04%, largest drop -0.38%, from 3 prices.

CompanyWhenAverageLargest gainLargest dropPrices
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)the next day-0.15%-0.04%-0.38%3
Spdr Series Trust (XBI)the next day-3.07%-2.49%-3.64%2
Eli Lilly (LLY)the next day+0.27%+0.49%-0.16%3
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)the next day+1.67%+2.01%+0.99%3

How far Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) has moved since 14 Nov 2026

CompanyWhenMoveStatus
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)three days earlier-1.97%final price
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)five days earlier-1.35%final price
Eli Lilly (LLY)three days earlier-0.49%final price
Eli Lilly (LLY)five days earlier-2.25%final price
Merck (MRK)three days earlier-0.38%final price
Merck (MRK)five days earlier+0.65%final price
Pfizer (PFE)three days earlier+1.90%final price
Pfizer (PFE)five days earlier+1.19%final price
Spdr Series Trust (XBI)three days earlier+3.78%final price
Spdr Series Trust (XBI)five days earlier+4.20%final price
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)three days earlier+0.04%final price
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)five days earlier-0.28%final price

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Who is named in “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West”

Companies mentioned with this story

  • XLV Select Sector Spdr Tr

    In “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West,” Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

  • XBI Spdr Series Trust

    For “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West,” Spdr Series Trust (XBI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

  • LLY Eli Lilly

    For “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West,” Eli Lilly (LLY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

  • JNJ Johnson & Johnson

    Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 14 Nov 2026 story “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West.” Reason on file: Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

  • PFE Pfizer

    Pfizer (PFE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 14 Nov 2026 story “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West.” Reason on file: Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

  • MRK Merck

    Merck (MRK) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 14 Nov 2026 story “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West.” Reason on file: Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

How “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West” reaches Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)

On 14 Nov 2026, “Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West” is the story that connects Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) to this story.

What ties Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) to the headline is this: Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

Also listed, Spdr Series Trust (XBI): SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “medicine” (pharma and health) in this story

The price range for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV), and the dates in the story

LLY traded between 1239.21 and 1458.90 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 1430.09.

A simple score for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)

46 out of 100

“Why Russia remains dependent on medicines made by the West” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 6 linked companies.