Russia slapped "smoking kills" warnings on cigarette packages from Saturday in an effort to crack down on an addiction kills up to 500,000 people a year and is on the rise.

Research medics in St. Petersburg have given a boost to the struggle against HIV and AIDS, by identifying a group of people resistant to HIV.

Global drugmakers are set to pour over a billion dollars into Russian manufacturing in a bid to win the status of local producers and sidestep a tougher government stance on imported medicines.

"The launch of the innovative trend in the development of the pharmaceutical sector will not (happen) without help from the government," Industry Minister Viktor Khristenko said on Saturday.

India is ready to invest in pharmaceutical plants in Russia, the Indian minister of commerce and industry said on Wednesday.