Pharmaceutical concerns continue to invest and modernize production facilities

According to the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIIZ), international pharmaceutical concerns have plans to invest $354 million in Poland. However, recent sector announcements indicate that these investments will be phased over a long period of time. The largest project which has already commenced, is the construction of a plant by Slovenian Lek, which recently become part of Novartis. Germany's Altana Pharm, formerly known as Byk Gulden, meanwhile is considering modernizing and expanding its production lines in Poland. So far, foreign pharmaceutical companies have spent $905 million, chiefly on the privatization of state owned concerns and the construction of new factories. The latest projects envisage the launch of new drugs on the market, as well as increasing research and development activities. "We are currently building a zł. 12 million plant in order to produce trial products used for research," said Aneta Grzegorzewska, spokeswoman for Polfa Grodzisk, which for over a year has been part of Gedeon Richter. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) A.K.