Lek Pharmatech drugs under Sandoz umbrella

Lek Pharmatech Targu Mures will soon begin a rebranding process that will see all the drugs in its portfolio placed under the Sandoz umbrella. Sandoz is the generics division of the Swiss Novartis Group, the world”s leading generics producer, with 28 billion dollars (nearly 23 billion euros) in sales in 2004. Midyear 2005, Novartis, which owns Lek Pharmatech Targu Mures concluded the acquisition of German generic manufacturer Hexal, and the two companies are now operating as a sole entity, also integrating their portfolios on the Romanian market. “The main goal of Lek Pharmatech is to put all the products under the same Sandoz umbrella, in order to improve the patients” access to new treatments,” explained Monica Alb, the company”s communication manager. The company officials estimate the costs of the rebranding process for this year to stand at approximately 1 million dollars (0.8 million euros) but could even exceed this figure. The rebranding process should be performed gradually over three years. Sandoz will group together the Lek, Lek Pharmatech, Sandoz and Hexal brands in Romania. ZF