Almirall prodesfarma invests 30 million euros in a new research and development centre.
This new centre represents the first phase of the largest investment project carried out within the Spanish pharmaceutical industry, calculated at 120 million euros, with the aim of integrating the entire R&D structure of Almirall Prodesfarma, currently consisting of five centres.
Almirall Prodesfarma, the first Spanish multinational pharmaceutical company, reinforces its R&D strategy with an ambitious plan estimated at 120 million euros. This project will constitute the largest investment made within the Spanish pharmaceutical industry. The ulterior objective is to integrate the entire R&D structure of Almirall Prodesfarma, with a view to disposing of a high tech reference centre able to respond to the challenges of 21st century pharmaceutical research. The initial phase consists of building a new Development Centre in Sant Feliu de Llobregat (Barcelona).
This installation will be located next to one of the five corporate research centres, based in the area of Barcelona, specifically: two in the city itself, one in Sant Just Desvern, one in Sant Andreu de la Barca and one in Sant Feliu de Llobregat. Specifically, it will be located next to the current Research Centre of San Feliu de Llobregat and will represent an investment of about 30 million euros. This new building, of approximately 21,000 m2, will be doted with a workforce of some 200 professionals.
The centre, which will be finished in the year 2004, will incorporate the latest technological advances with a view to becoming a nucleus of reference in biomedical research. As Doctor José Mª Palacios, General Director of R&D at Almirall Prodesfarma, points out, "this new building in Sant Feliu will centre on development of new molecules, both from the biological and galenic point of view, and will incorporate the regulatory criteria demanded by international health authorities and the latest technological advances to allow internationalisation of our results".
The professionals who will work in this new centre will form part of the Biological Development and Pharmaceutical Development divisions, as well as of other structures backing up the development of a new drug. Doctor Palacios points out: "pharmacists, chemists, biologists and physicians, among other specialists, will form part of the team devoted to the development of projects with the aim of guaranteeing the safety, efficacy and quality of new drugs".
Expansion of the R&D area entails constant innovation of technologies and fulfilment of the strict regulatory criteria demanded by national and international health authorities, as far as research and development of a new drug is concerned.
"This centre responds to our strategy of researching and developing new molecules that are candidates for drugs to treat different alterations, principally those involving inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, allergy and asthma", concludes Doctor Palacios.
Belief in research and development of new molecules
The priorities established by Almirall Prodesfarma consist of an emphasis on R&D, internationalisation of the company and consolidation of its position in the national market.
In this sense, one of the most important strategic objectives is to develop R&D in order to obtain new drugs and thus achieve maximum competitiveness. Estimated investment in R&D for this year 2002 is of 73 million euros. The total sum forecast for this area over the next five years reaches 450 million euros.
At present, Almirall Prodesfarma possesses five R&D centres, doted with advanced technology. Currently, it employs a team of more than 500 professionals in this field.
Almirall Prodesfarma, the first Spanish multinational pharmaceutical company
The main aim of Almirall Prodesfarma, the first Spanish multinational pharmaceutical company, is to provide society with innovative drugs to combat discomfort and disease, thus helping to improve health and quality of life. To this end, it constantly devotes the maximum human and financial resources to researching new products.
The company's main research fields fall within the areas related to the treatment of asthma, allergies, bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders.
Global estimation of the workforce in 2002 is 3,006 people, with an R&D team of 508. Annual expenses for R&D in 2001 reached 56 million euros and the estimate for this year 2002 is 73 million euros. In this area, the global forecast for the next five years is 450 million euros.
In addition, the company has five R&D centres and six manufacturing plants, as well as branch offices in the main capital cities of Spain and subsidiaries in Europe and Latin America.