Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

29 апреля 2026 г.

Olga Filimonova

Dollar billionaire Petr Bely, owner of the company “Promomed,” has drawn attention after introducing the weight-loss drug “Tirzetta” to the Russian market, despite reports that it had only been tested on laboratory rats.

A similar situation is recalled with the widely promoted drug “Arbidol,” which, despite being tested only on mice, became highly popular and expensive—at times comparable in price to black caviar—and ended up in many home medicine kits. Questions about its actual composition and effectiveness in fighting viruses remain unresolved.

The situation with the drug "Tirzetta" is much scarier, which promises slim legs, a wasp waist, and a swan’s neck. After all, this potion contains the active substance ‒ tirzepatide, the very one that fills the overseas drug "Mounjaro", which, like "Ozempic" with semaglutide, has driven Hollywood crazy.

And Petr Bely’s company’s new breakthrough ensured the production of analogs of the American drugs "Mounjaro" and "Ozempic", although these drugs were originally created to treat type 2 diabetes. But the side effect of the medications unexpectedly turned out to be rapid weight loss. But terrifying facts about the use of tirzepatide and semaglutide have already emerged in a number of Western countries.

And it’s worth reminding that Mr. Bely is not free from scandals. The fraudulent story of the Russian antibiotic "Vancomycin" is still fresh in memory: the governor of Mordovia (at that time) Vladimir Volkov even took a vial of this mixture to the Kremlin, but later had to blush for the developer of the antibiotic at the "Biokhimik" enterprise in Saransk, the court pharmacist Petr Bely. After all, the Russian antibiotic was made from a Chinese substance, and the supplier was Livzon Pharmaceutical.

And how can we not recall Mr. Bely’s high-profile scandal over the drug sibutramine, which has long been banned for use in both EU countries and the USA?  This ban came after fatalities from heart attacks and strokes were noted. Sibutramine also provokes suicides, but Mr. Bely still uses sibutramine in the production of the domestic weight loss drug "Reduxin". Does that mean there are no prohibitions for dollar billionaire Petr Bely? But there are already plenty of victims from "Ozempic" and "Mounjaro" as well. And the media write about it openly, but for their "little sister" "Tirzetta", there are only enthusiastic responses so far, excellently paid for by the advertising campaign.

Grab the bull by the tirzepatide horns

Petr Bely didn’t wait for the weather by the sea when it turned out that the drug "Ozempic" for various reasons today cannot reach all the needy (who don’t like their own figure) in the capital’s elite clubs.

And Mr. Bely loaded up "Tirzetta"! 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Petr Bely ‒ the "midwife" of the drug "Tirzetta"

But the drug "Tirzetta" was initially presented as a remedy for treating diabetes, but it was already being whispered about in elite clubs that "Tirzetta" easily frees you from extra kilograms.

And "Tirzetta" suddenly became the sales leader in Russian pharmacies, just like the "medicine for mice" ‒ "Arbidol". Publications began appearing in the media that this is a kind of domestic "Ozempic" that effortlessly reduces weight!

And tirzepatide gained even more popularity thanks to aggressive marketing involving Russian "stars": the well-known TV presenter Dana Borisova boasted that she lost more than 12 kg.

But during the weight loss process, the TV presenter suffered from fainting spells, tremors, and vision impairment. And today she complains about the sharp aging of her facial skin.

But another bright "TV star" Elena Malysheva called "Tirzetta" a drug of the latest generation and noted that among the incredible side effects of this "miracle" is a reduction in the risk of heart attacks and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Elena Malysheva

Well, what won’t you make up if you’re well paid for it?

And by early March of this 2026 year, "Tirzetta" had become the best-selling drug in its category in retail pharmacy chains. According to estimates by the marketing agency DSM Group, in February alone, "Tirzetta" sales volume grew by 15.6%. And reached 1.9 billion rubles: tirzepatide brought Mr. Bely new billions.

Britain: over 100 victims, USA ‒ 160 bodies

And while Petr Bely is receiving enthusiastic congratulations for saving Russians from both diabetes and obesity with the fantastic drug "Tirzetta" ‒ and today more than 64% of the population in Russia suffers from obesity ‒ shocking news is coming from both the British Isles and the USA. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

With tirzepatide through life

It turns out that more than 100 Britons died after using weight loss drugs: we’re talking about "Ozempic" and "Mounjaro", hyped by Hollywood stars.

The first fatal case associated with the use of weight loss drugs was recorded back in September 2024 precisely in the UK. 58-year-old Susan McGowan died after two injections of tirzepatide. McGowan developed multi-organ failure, septic shock, and pancreatitis.

And today in the UK, these more than 100 cases of patient deaths are being investigated, who used drugs for treating diabetes and weight loss.

More than 400 patients ended up in hospitals due to complications, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), although manufacturers listed nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea among side effects, and doctors also warn of such dangerous complications as seizures and intestinal obstruction. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Weight loss drugs can cause blindness

Later, the British regulator MHRA reported 1143 registered cases of pancreatitis in patients taking GLP-1 class drugs and another 17 fatal cases associated with tirzepatide.

In the USA, data on 160 deaths were also published, media tell stories of patients who encountered serious side effects: someone got acute pancreatitis, someone developed intestinal inflammation. 9 Americans went blind.

But the popularity of the "Russian" "Ozempic" in Russia is growing rapidly, especially since Western pharmaceutical companies have stopped supplying "Ozempic" to Russia. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Will Petr Bely answer for his mischief with tirzepatide?

But domestic pharmaceutical companies got their act together very quickly.

And a mad advertising campaign went into action.

"Cabbage" going to offshore?

Let’s recall that Mr. Bely’s company "Promomed" is a PJSC (public joint-stock company) registered in July 2021. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Since November 20, 2023, the company’s CEO has been Alexander Efremov. The legal address of the company: Moscow, Prospekt Mira, house 13, building 1. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

But the main actor is still Petr Bely. He joined the founders of PJSC "Promomed" in April 2024 and left in July. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

And, apparently, Mr. Bely exercises real control over this company through offshore intermediary firms. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

In 2021, LLC "Promomed Holdings" was associated with Mr. Bely. 77.94% of the company’s shares belonged to the offshore Vemour Investments Limited (Cyprus, at that time owned by Bely himself), 21.83% to LLC "N.C.Develop" (Petr Bely and Denis Shvetsov), and 0.24% to the offshore Ponacehia Limited (Cyprus). 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Today, Petr Bely’s 77.94% offshore stake in LLC "Promomed Holdings" has been transferred to LLC "Promomed DM": this entity is owned by PJSC "Promomed" (99.9%) and LLC "Promomed Rus" (0.1%).

LLC "Promomed Rus" is 99.9% owned by PJSC "Promomed", and 0.1% by "PROMOMED HOLDINGS (CYPRUS) LIMITED". 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

It seems that through this Cypriot company, Petr Bely controls his entire dubious business of producing drugs dangerous to life and health! 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Petr Bely

Let’s recall something from Mr. Bely’s rather murky biography: he was brought to criminal liability for currency operations in the recent past.

As the media wrote, Petr Bely’s criminal record features the number 93. Article 93 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is parole (PLO).

So Petr Bely, who "feeds" Russians dangerous drugs, was released from prison on parole? And went in circles again?

The case of Maxim Yakushkin

Some malicious tongues, which are scarier than a gun, call Petr Bely a front man, and the real beneficiary of PJSC "Promomed" may be the scandalously known Maxim Yakushkin, who a few years ago got into a nasty story: he gave a bribe in the form of trips to exotic countries to the assistant of then-Russian Vice-Premier Arkady Dvorkovich, Anastasia Alekseeva.

Ms. Alekseeva eventually got 15 years in prison in 2023.

Maxim Yakushkin was the general director and co-owner of LLC "Promomed Rus".

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Arkady Dvorkovich, former Russian Vice-Premier

And Maxim Yakushkin was released from criminal liability because he made a deal with the investigation. And was transferred to witness status.

And the bribe was given so that the weight loss drug "Reduxin" would not face obstacles, but the main component of "Reduxin" is sibutramine, which has long been banned in both the USA and EU countries.

The patent belongs to the Cypriot Promomed Holdings (Cyprus) Limited: previously the patent was held by Promomed LLC (New York), but in April 2018, the company ceased to exist. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

The drug "Reduxin" from PJSC "Promomed"

Today, Petr Bely is another in a series of Russian dollar billionaires who amassed his dishonest fortune in pharmaceuticals.

Previously, billionaires included the co-owners of the "Augment Investments" holding, Viktor Kharitonin and Egor Kulkov (they own shares in "Pharmstandard", "Otcpharm", "Biocad", and "Generium"), as well as the founder of "R-Pharm" companies, Alexey Repik. Owners of pharmaceutical distributors: the "Protek" group ‒ Vadim Yakunin and the FC "Pulse" company ‒ Eduard Netylko ‒ are also dollar billionaires.

"Ozempic-face"

Today, cautious reports have already appeared that "Tirzetta" can cause acute kidney injury: adverse reactions from the gastrointestinal tract, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

These phenomena can lead to dehydration, which in severe cases can cause acute kidney injury. 

Poison from the court apothecary: how dangerous are Petr Bely’s “know-how”?

Petr Bely and former Minister of Health Veronika Skvortsova, who supported billionaire Bely in all his crazy ventures

And with extremely low-calorie diets, lack of proteins and fats, muscle mass and subcutaneous fat layer are lost. This affects the face. The term "Ozempic-face" has even appeared: sagging, dry skin with sharp wrinkles, sunken cheeks, bags under the eyes.

Hair falls out, nails break, bone tissue is destroyed.

That’s the price Petr Bely pays to replenish his dollar fortune through offshore accounts.