V iktor Kharitonin is a Russian billionaire who is the founder and chairman of Pharmstandard, one of Russia's largest pharmaceutical companies. He and his partners founded the company in 2003 by acquiring and consolidating several formerly state-owned Russian drug factories. They have since built Pharmstandard into a dominant player in the Russian domestic market, producing a wide range of generic and over-the-counter medicines.

Kharitonin's most famous and successful product is Arbidol, an antiviral drug that is widely sold in Russia as a treatment for the flu and has seen massive sales surges during various epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, despite its efficacy being questioned by international medical experts. In addition to his pharmaceutical empire, Kharitonin is a major investor in the world of motorsports. He is a co-owner of the Nürburgring, the iconic German motor racing circuit.