The article analyzes the process of formation of an innovative path for establishing modern pharmaceutical and medical industries in the Russian regions on the basis of economy clustering. Positive experience, features, and challenges in implementing state policy on the development of clusters influencing citizens’ health and life expectancy are shown by the example of specific federal subjects, and Kaluga Region in particular.The authors propose to ensure the continuous nature of the development of new generation medications in order to implement the import substitution policy. It has been demonstrated that Russian scientific potential in the field of pharmaceuticals and biomedicine has a powerful force of attraction for major foreign companies. The authors substantiate the idea that building the vector of relations with interested foreign partners, and not forming of a “besieged fortress” psychology, will help to address both internal challenges in ensuring the drug safety and stabilization of relations on the world arena.