The answer may be one of: * US pharma is developing a me-too / copycat drug that has very similar molecular structure * US pharma has tried and it failed befo

The answer may be one of: * US pharma is developing a me-too / copycat drug that has very similar molecular structure * US pharma has tried and it failed before public announcement (oh there are so many of them) * US pharma negotiated contract and found that the Russians are non-negotiable :)