Cardiovascular drugs support AstraZeneca

The Romanian branch of Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca has reported total sales of around 9 million dollars (8 million euros) for 2004, an increase of approximately 15% year-on-year. Cardiovascular drugs made the largest contribution to their total sales.

“One of the factors behind our company’s higher turnover last year was the compensation of up to 90% of certain drug categories, as well as the setting up and expansion of some national programmes in various treatment areas, such as oncology and psychic disorders,” said Viorica Tilinca, marketing manager with AstraZeneca Romania.

The high turnover was also helped by the increased purchasing power of consumers and better promotion of AstraZeneca products, representatives of the company added.

“Beside the positive factors, our activity during 2004 was also impacted by a series of other factors, this time negative ones, such as the insufficient level of funds allocated to hospitals, the heavily delayed payment of debts in the healthcare system, as well as the emergence of a higher number of generic products,” said Tilinca.

AstraZeneca’s product portfolio covers a wide range of illnesses, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders, cancer and psychiatric illnesses.

The company also makes anti-infectious drugs.

Their cardiovascular category was the most important in terms of total sales.

All the market segments on which the company is present witnessed sustained growth last year.

AstraZeneca was created in 1996 following the merger of Swedish company Astra AB, which was established in 1913, with British group Zeneca, established in 1926.
alexandru.cerchez@zf.ro