Lek aims to outpace market growth

Pharmaceuticals company Lek Pharmatech Romania, part of the world’s number one in the industry of generic drugs, the Swiss group Novartis, created turnover worth 38 million euros (1,400 billion ROL) for 2005, due to the introduction of new products on the market.

“The company’s plans include a 22% sales growth as compared to 2004, with the launch of products destined to the CNR (cardiovascular, central nervous system and respiratory system) therapeutic groups contributing to the achievement of this estimated growth”, stated Sever Iztok, a country manager with Lek Romania. Iztok expects a 15% increase of the pharmaceutical market this year. Last year, Lek logged sales revolving around 29 million euros at the level of its three units. Of this amount, 38% accounted for sales of Lek Pharmatech, 37% of Lek and the rest of 24% for sales of Biochemie, Iztok also said. Sever replaced Tomo Cuk as the head of Lek operations on the Romanian market, after Cuk ran the company for 4 years, until this February.

The main segment of Lek portfolio in Romania is that of antibiotics. “We expect a 13% growth in sales of antibiotics, with the other segments to witness the same trend registered over recent years”, Iztok said, without specifying the share of antibiotics within the total turnover. Lek’s main rivals along the segment of antibiotics in Romania are Antibiotice Iasi, Europharm Brasov and Sicomed Bucuresti. Antibiotics are one of the most important segments on the Romanian pharmaceuticals market, with a share of 25% in terms of quantity and about 10% in terms of value.

Lek’s current portfolio includes products imported from Slovenia, Austria, countries where the company has production centres, as well as products from its plant from Targu-Mures, totally over 100 products.

Lek entered the Romanian market in 2001, when it acquired 90% in stock of the domestic company specialised in antibiotics production, namely PharmaTech of Targu Mures.
alexandru.cerchez@zf.ro