The general manager of Roche Romania, Dan Zamonea, says he does not intend to challenge the leaders domestic pharmaceutical market, instead preferring to keep a low profile.
The company, the number two on the domestic pharmaceutical market, is one of the few players embracing a less aggressive policy.
“We are not planning to become the market leader in Romania. Roche group”s strategy for the region is to stay among the top four-five companies on the market,” Zamonea also said.
Instead, Roche”s strategy centres on the development of partnerships with domestic producers.
“We prefer organic, and not extensive growth. The acquisitions Roche group is making abroad are either strategic ones from a geographical point of view, or are prompted by the research-development potential,” stated the representative of Roche Romania.
The company has had a partnership with the Cluj-based Terapia drug maker for some time, and plans to set up similar alliances with other players.
Dan Zamonea says bipolar strategy has been taking shape among patent drug makers lately. “Some of them (patent drug makers i.e.) have adopted a strategy of orientation toward generics and this will surely be felt at the level of drug consumption,” said Zamonea.
Globally, Hoffmann La Roche is the leader of the oncologic drug market, and has been present in Romania for more than 10 years, operating in top therapeutic sectors such as virusology, oncology, anaemia treatment, obesity and transplants.
The company last year derived turnover worth approximately 74 million euros, in line with Cegedim data. Dan Zamonea indicates a pace of growth of around 10% for this year, in line with the trend of the pharmaceutical market.
In 2004, the company posted turnover worth 62.9 million euros and held 6.5% of the market. On the long term, though, the representative of Roche Romania anticipates growth above the market rate.
In Romania, the company mainly invests in clinical research and in programmes related to patients” access to various treatments. For this year, the company has earmarked a budget of around 2 million euros. Globally, 15% of Hoffmann La Roche”s turnover is destined to research-development.
At the beginning of 2006, the company operated a share capital increase by over 5 million euros, which could be repeated during this year, “should it be necessary”.
This year, La Roche has added three products to its already existing portfolio.
Drug consumption last year hit the value of 4.6 billion RON (1.27bn euros), in line with Cegedim data. As regards this year, Dan Zamonea says the market will not see growth comparable to last year”s. ioana.david@zf.ro