Antibiotice invests to triple output

Drugmaker Antibiotice Iasi invested more than 1.2 million euros in a new line that makes drugs portioned in capsules, whose annual capacity stands at 350 million capsules a year.This is expected to stimulate the turnover growth by up to 30% next year, the company officials say. “At present, capsules account for 15% of Antibiotice’s turnover; when all three production lines are done, the capsule output could increase three times from the current level,” said Ioan Nani, Antibiotice Iasi’s chief executive. Antibiotice representatives anticipate up to 15 million euro worth of capsule sales next year. Sales to the foreign markets account for 20% of the company’s turnover, that is 6.5 million euros in 2003. The officials set out to attain 25% export growth in 2005. Last year Antibiotice posted 32.4 million euro turnover, while 2004 estimates point to more than 10% higher total sales and a gross profit of approximately 4 million euros. The 2005 S&R budget targets an up to 43 million euro turnover. ZF