Unfavourable trends in global pharmaceutical markets, shrinking opportunities in traditional innovation, increasing generic competition and the curbing of subsidy budgets all underline the importance of new fields, such as biotechnology, which offer business potentials for any company thinking in the long-term. It was in 2007 that Gedeon Richter Plc. made the strategic decision to enter the field of biotechnology through the establishment of biotechnological R&D and manufacturing facilities.
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Richter has been employing biotechnological processes for more than four decades, mainly in the production of steroid intermediates and APIs with sterile fermentation. The company boasts solid traditions and expertise in both development and manufacture. Thanks to its R&D results and expenditure, Richter remains one of the most significant research bases in Central and Eastern Europe.Richter has executed major investments in the field of biotechnology in the past few years. In November 2005 the Company announced the completion of a laboratory – unique in Hungary at the time – suitable for the large-scale fermentation of recombinant proteins* for human use.In August 2007 Gedeon Richter and Hamburg-based Helm AG established a joint venture company with 70% and 30% ownership respectively. |
The acquisition of 22.9 million euros comprises a state-of the-art plant specialising in the bacterial line of biotechnology and the production of recombinant proteins as well as R & D laboratory and pilot plant capacity.
Richter intends to commence the construction of its new biotechnological plant exceeding HUF 15 billion in value in Debrecen’s industrial park in 2008.
*recombinant proteins are produced by the injection of new genetic information into host organisms (bacteria, yeast, animals cells)