In anticipation of the launch of the I All-Russian Pharmaceutical Run, we publish historical essays on the history of the development of the healthcare system and pharmacology in the cities participating in the large-scale action. Indeed, respect for traditions, support for the old school, the transfer of best practices and a healthy mentoring system are key to the development of a successful future. The pharmaceutical industry is no exception.
Author: historian, publicist Stanislav Chagin
The city of Staraya Kupavna is located on the left bank of the Shalovka River (the Klyazma river basin), 15 km from Noginsk and 18 km from Moscow (MKAD). To the south of the city is the relict glacial lake Biserovo. The city is 653 years old. The first mention of Kupavna is contained in very ancient documents. For the first time, Kupavna is mentioned in the oldest of the Moscow Grand Duchy treaties – in the “final letter” of the sons of Ivan Kalita: Grand Duke Simeon the Proud with Princes Ivan and Andrei. In it, among the villages departing by agreement between the brothers to Grand Duke Simeon, is also called the “new village on Kupavna.” This document dates from approximately the spring-summer of 1348. For the second time, the same village is already mentioned in the “spiritual” (testament) of Grand Duke Simeon Ivanovich, hastily compiled before his death. This “new” village, according to the dying will of the Grand Duke, should among many other villages go to his wife. According to the latest research data, this document can be fairly accurately dated April 24-25, 1353. This is the time of the death of Prince Simeon the Proud during the epidemic of “black death” or the plague that mowed entire villages that came from Europe. This date, in fact, is considered the founding date of Kupavna.
The village is also famous for the fact that it stood on the well-known highway – on the Old Vladimir Road, along which trade and other routes went to the east, the Urals and further to Siberia. The archival documents contain the following data: “At 33 versts from Moscow, close to the Vladimirsky highway at the end of the 16th century, there was a small village on the Kupava River – the estate of the Demidov nobles.” In ancient times, this place was called a wasteland, about which the following records are also found in archival documents: “The wasteland of Korshunov-Loshchink-Koshchunok also of Nikita Anisimovich’s son, Demidov, is on the right bank of the Kupavna river, there are only 122 tithes of 147 hundred in that wasteland”. Later, a village called Demidovo appeared on this site, by the name of its masters.
In the vicinity of Kupavna, some settlements, for example, Moles, are also recorded. Such an entry was made about them: “Next to Kupavna is the village of Voskresenskoye Rodinovo, also on the right bank of the Chudinka River, in the possession of the widow of a gunsmith Ivan Naryshkin, Praskovya Alekseevna Naryshkina.” This is the motherland of the mother of Peter 1 Natalia Kirillovna Naryshkina, the second wife of Alexei Mikhailovich.
In 1620, among many others, “the village of Demidova, and Khupavna identity” was transferred to the famous military commander, Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky, according to the decree “For the Moscow siege seat in the Korolevich parish”, that is, more precisely: for successful the defense of Moscow, during the approach and siege of Moscow by the troops of the Polish prince Vladislav in 1619.
The first watch factory in Russia appeared precisely in Kupavna: Potemkin opened the first watch factory in Russia on the territory of the cloth factory. It produced 185 hours of various kinds per year, several hours were sent for His Imperial Majesty.
During the war of 1812, Kupavinsky environs also left many references in history. So, at the end of August 1812, Napoleon commanded Marshal Ney with three divisions to the Bogorodsk Territory with the goal of obtaining food and fodder for the hungry army. On August 23, 1 division arrives in Staraya Kupavna, 2 divisions in Bogorodsk. The troops occupying the county center totaled 6,000 soldiers and cavalrymen with 15 guns. The locals were actively fighting foreign invaders. So in the Bogorodsky Uyezd, an almost six thousandth detachment of Gerasim Kurin was operating, in which the elder of the village of Tokarevo, Yegor Stulov, commanded the cavalry. 100 years after the Battle of Borodino, the Borodino Bridge across the Moscow River was opened in Moscow. On the bridge are gray granite obelisks that adorn the names of Kutuzov, Bagration, other prominent military leaders, as well as Gerasim Kurin, Yegor Stulov and other heroes of the 1812 war.
Years passed, centuries. During this time, Kupavna grew from a small village to a large village, known for its goods far beyond the borders of Moscow province. The 19th century was ending. The 20th approached. With all his shocks, wars, achievements and victories. With all that made Kupavna the way we know her …
At the beginning of the century, malaria was very common, but the young Soviet state had no cure for this disease, and Western countries refused to sell them to the Soviet Union. Therefore, it was decided to build an enterprise for the production of the domestic drug Akrikhin for the treatment of malaria.
By decision of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR No. 2533 dated November 10, 1934, the Doctor’s Chemical Plant was transferred from the jurisdiction of the Moscow regional executive committee to the NarKomTyazhProm. By Decree of the Council of Labor and Defense of the USSR No. 64 dated January 23, 1935, NarKomTyazhProm was allowed to build the Akrikhin production plant on the area of the Doctor’s Chemical Plant. Seven workshops were built and more than one and a half thousand units of equipment were mounted. On October 20, 1936, the first industrial batch of Akrikhin was released. This day is considered the founding date of the AKRIKHIN plant. In October 1937, the plant reached its design capacity.
During the Great Patriotic War, in October 1941, pharmaceutical production was evacuated to the city of Irbit. During the war, the factory AKRIKHIN produced KS incendiary liquid, also known as the Molotov cocktail, which was used to undermine tanks. As well as medications, including white and red streptocide.
After the war, pharmaceutical production was returned to Staraya Kupavna, but in 1952, the production of Akrikhin was discontinued due to the elimination of massive foci of malaria. There was an increase in the volume of production of previously developed drugs and the organization of production of new ones.
Over the years, AKRIKHIN will become one of the largest chemical and pharmaceutical enterprises in the Soviet Union. By the end of the eighties, it will produce up to 40% of finished substances (for the preparation of medicines) from the total production in the country. These substances will be used by both many enterprises of the USSR and the CMEA countries, as well as Europe, America and Canada. He will receive many international awards and quality marks. Ready-made dosage forms will be produced at the plant.
The closed town of military sailors will become open to all. Scooters will appear on the lake and in quarries instead of lifeguard boats, and all the surroundings of the reservoirs on hot days will be lined with expensive foreign cars. Life will change, so will Kupavna. Here, where once the ancient Slavs in the dense forests built their homes, new generations will bathe in sunbathing and enjoy nature. Because Kupavna has remained Kupavna for over 650 years. And anyone who has been here at least once will not forget this place.
