Ipsum supplements surge as Russia's market expands with new regulations

The structure of International Boxing Association (IBA) owner Umar Kremlev has acquired stakes in companies producing dietary supplements under the Ipsum brand. This brand was founded by Alexander Dzhidzhariya, head of the urology and sports medicine department at RUDN University. Mr. Kremlev may be interested in this market due to his work in professional sports. Additionally, his structures are already involved in developing a pharmaceutical cluster in the Moscow region.

Kremlev's structures have acquired stakes in companies producing dietary supplements. As discovered by 'Kommersant' in the SPARK database, 'UNK Holding' owned by Umar Kremlev has acquired 50% in LLC 'NutriShun Farm' and LLC 'NutriShun Active'. The latter owns the trademark Ipsum Dr. Dzidzariya. Under this brand, Dr. Alexander Dzhidzhariya releases dietary supplements, and he also owns the remaining shares in both legal entities.

Alexander Dzhidzhariya is the head of the urology and sports medicine departments at RUDN University. He also leads the oncology urology and oncology gynecology department at the Russian Scientific Center of Roentgenoradiology. He owns the Biocheck clinic and promotes the marketplaces for bioproducts and cosmetics Beauty. He launched the Ipsum dietary supplements production in 2022. According to DSM Group, from January to August 2024, 32,300 packages of these dietary supplements were sold in pharmacies for 39.2 million rubles. Compared to 2024, sales have significantly increased due to the low base.

*LLC 'NutriShun Active' was registered in October 2022. According to SPARK data, the company's revenue grew by three times year-over-year in 2024, to 594.8 million rubles, and net profit decreased by 44%, to 33.1 million rubles.*

*LLC 'NutriShun Farm' was created in June 2023. By the end of 2024, the legal entity's revenue increased by nine times, to 343.6 million rubles, and net profit increased by ten times, to 177.6 million rubles.*

Alexander Dzhidzhariya told 'Kommersant' that this is about a strategic partnership with Umar Kremlev's structure. According to him, the sides have decided to build a modern factory in the 'Big Serpukhov' special economic zone, which will allow significantly expanding the product line, optimizing costs, and entering the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union and the UAE.

In 'UNK Holding', they said they 'chose Ipsum after a thorough independent audit of business indicators, laboratory research of raw materials and finished products, as well as a comprehensive check of the production infrastructure'. They also confirmed plans to enter the international market, including the UAE. Umar Kremlev's structures have previously shown interest in the dietary supplements market. In June 2025, it was reported that up to 5 billion rubles could be invested in the production of dietary supplements in the pharmaceutical cluster 'Aluron' near Serpukhov, which is being developed by Mr. Kremlev (see 'Kommersant' from June 19). The businessman, who also heads the International Boxing Association (IBA), has a diverse range of assets. In 2024, he became the owner of the car dealership 'Rolf', and in August 2025, his structures acquired shares in 'Certification Group' and 'Sercons', which deal with testing and certification of goods (see 'Kommersant' from August 28).

Alexander Zhestkov, the executive director of the SRO 'Union of Dietary Supplements Producers', suggests that with his new business activities, Umar Kremlev could help create a structure in Russia similar to the American NSF (National Sanitation Foundation). This non-governmental organization deals with the certification of products, including dietary supplements, whose producers cooperate with sports associations.

In Russia, the purchase of dietary supplements for national sports teams is handled through the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA). It uses a special formulary, and a producer can only get in with the approval of the FMBA, so a structure for certifying dietary supplements for athletes already exists in the country. 'But an organization like NSF is needed more to help athletes who want to improve their results or recover using dietary supplements understand which products are of high quality and do not contain anything similar to doping,' explains Mr. Zhestkov.

The sales of dietary supplements in Russia are growing in monetary terms but stagnating in physical terms. According to DSM Group, in August 2025, the volume of dietary supplements sold in pharmacies increased by 22% year-on-year in monetary terms (14.2 billion rubles). One of the drivers for further growth of this segment could be the law that came into effect on September 1, 2025, giving doctors the right to prescribe dietary supplements to patients.

Victoria Kolganova