Abbott, a U.S. healthcare firm, has agreed to buy Russian drug maker Veropham for $495 million. This deal gives the firm a manufacturing presence in the country where it has operated for four decades. This is the biggest acquisition by a U.S. firm in Russic since Phillip Morris International Inc. announced it was buying a stake in cigarette distributor Megapolis for $750 million back in December. Veropharm's shares are up 34% in Mosocw. Veropharm is Russia's biggest drug maker, with a market cap of $300 million.