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“Being first or second to launch is crucial
in the US,” says Dr. Harald Summer, Project Manager for AmoxC at
Sandoz. “Sales crumble very rapidly if several generic players are
on the market and experience has shown that if you are third to
launch, you are almost too late.”
Lek was also forced into the courts to defend
its procedure for the synthesis of omeprazole, which the Slovenian
company began developing in 1997. Shortly before Christmas last year,
the Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office upheld the validity
of Lek’s European patent, which protects the manufacturing procedure
for synthesis of omeprazole. In all, Lek holds five patents covering
the process in the US as well as Europe.
Global Network, Global Success:
Re-branding Generics
In January 2003, the industry experience,
production skills, and product portfolios of our 14 individual generics
companies were merged to create a unified world-class entity. The
generics unit was relaunched under the well known name Sandoz, previously
used by one of the predecessor companies that merged to create Novartis
in its present form. The Sandoz name stands for quality and reliability
of supply.
The clear objective: to better take advantage
of synergies in production (the importance of global production networks
for multinational companies cannot be overestimated), supply chain
management, sourcing, and drug development and registration. We are
also aiming to consolidate our overall leadership position by joining
forces and speaking with one unique and strong voice.
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The re-branding
process will be completed in 2005, except for the integration of Lek,
which will remain a separate Slovenia-based brand for the time being.
With global headquarters in Vienna, at the
crossroads of Eastern and Western European cultures, Sandoz is well
positioned as a global industry leader in the generics business. Sandoz
is looking to attract talent and, local expertise from diverse markets.
Harnessing diversity is a key to market penetration, and at the new
headquarters in Vienna, 15 nations are already represented among the
associates, whose numbers will increase further in 2004.
As well as consolidating our existing position,
we are continually looking to increase our global market segment share,
and have recently broadened our operations through several strategic
site acquisitions.
Antibiotics remain an important priority.
The Amifarma S.L. plant in Palafolls, Spain, which we acquired in
December 2003, offers us an opportunity to strengthen our leading
position in the sterile penicillins segment. Providing freeze-drying
technology and expanding production capacity of sterile antibiotics,
the plant is an ideal complement to our existing center of excellence
for oral semi-synthetic penicillins in Spain, the state-of-the-art
Les Franqueses site.
Sandoz also plans to leverage its global
influence in industrial antibiotics by moving further downstream,
into the development of finished, retail antibiotics.
Furthermore, Sandoz intends to build on
its competitive advantages in the development and production of highly
promising Biopharmaceuticals.
Sandoz continues to be driven by proven
marketing expertise and strategic acuity, but the global leadership
role will be strengthened through the increased efficiency which comes
from centralizing under the Sandoz brand. |
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