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SCIENCE / MEDICINE : Alarm in Soviet Drug Firm Closures

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From staff and wire reports

Drug company closures have severely cut the Soviet Union’s already limited ability to produce medicines, according to a consultant specializing in Soviet affairs.

“They are in a state of emergency because of supply cuts from plant closings, often for environmental concerns,” said Dr. John Pendlebury, a partner with the consulting firm Coopers, Lybrand and Deloitte.

Pendlebury said that between 30% and 40% of the Soviet Union’s drug plants had closed over the past year. The closures, intended to reduce chemical pollution, had slashed production from 70% of demand to 50% or less.

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