Biolab will invest R $450 million in medicines factory in MG

National pharmaceutical Biolab announced this Thursday, 20, R $450 million investment in a new factory. The laboratory of medicines will be built in Pouso Alegre, southern Minas Gerais and will have capacity to produce 200 million units of medicines a year.
The Biolab is one of the largest national capital pharmaceutical, with revenues of R $1.25 billion in 2016, according to the consulting firm IMS Health. According to the company, the new unit will be designed also to serve the international market. Projected investment, 40% will be banked with own resources, and the remainder will be picked up on the market.
In an interview to the State, Cleiton Castro Marques, partner and President of the group, stated that the Biolab was already planning the move for some time. He said the current economic and political crisis of the country did not affect the company''s plans. "Despite the crisis, the pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow 8% this year. It is expected that sales of the Biolab increase between 8% and 10%. "
The operations of the new industrial complex should start from 2020, even partially. The group, which has three production units, all in the State of Sao Paulo, won tax incentives from the Government to build your new unit miner.
Between 2009 and 2012, the pharmaceutical industry experienced a boom of investments, with the construction of new units and also with mergers and acquisitions, especially multinationals seeking generic drug-producing laboratories.
This movement began to cool in recent years because of the crisis. "Multinationals took the foot off the gas, but they''re not leaving to invest in the country," said Nelson Mussolini, Executive Chairman of the Association of pharmaceutical industries of the State of São Paulo (Sindusfarma).
He regrets, however, that the State is losing investments in the sector to other units of the Federation. "The Government of Sao Paulo has to look closely the incentives being granted by neighbouring States. São Paulo has lost investment because of the fiscal war. "
Diversification. Leader in prescription medications intended for cardiology and specialized in Pediatrics, Gynecology and orthopedics, Biolab is also preparing to expand your expertise in VET. Currently, this business division represents 1% of the total revenue of the group, but should have greater relevance in the next three years.
The veterinary market geared towards small animals has grown in Brazil and this is the bet of the group, second Chawan Marques. "The segment of large animals have lower margins and is more competitive." The Biolab, thus, follows the same path of other groups, such as Eurofarma and Chemical Union national.
Against part of the pharmaceutical industry, which has looked carefully the thread of dermacosmetics, Biolab doesn''t want to expand your expertise in this area. Interests in dermatology, Marques but for prescription drugs.
The Biolab has 276 patent applications in various areas of health, including in radical innovation. It doesn''t matter to the pharmaceutical group enter the segment of generics (copies of drugs that have lost patent). "Our focus is on innovation," said the Manager.