Nathan, who started his term in October, told Ziarul Financiar in an interview that the group was going through a process of reorganization of its industrial department, but would use the plant in Romania to launch products and make products.
From a factory that used to supply only the domestic market, the former Sicomed is now already exporting over five products to markets in Western Europe (Germany, UK, Italy and Switzerland). The next markets targeted are France, Portugal, as well as the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and the Baltic countries.
There are fifteen products already or in the process of being transferred, in addition to ten more “feasibility briefs” approved for several therapeutic areas.
“More and more markets will be supplied by Romania,” said Nathan. He explained it takes about two years to complete transfer a product.
Exports could reach 30% of the production in five years, but the company says it will have a clearer picture of this projection at the beginning of the year.
Jacques Nathan, 46, was also appointed chairman of the board of directors of Zentiva SA on October 1. Early in 2009, Sanofi announced the completion of its acquisition of Zentiva, a Czech drug maker that owned the former Sicomed plant on the local market. The deal put Sanofi in the top position among the companies in its business in Romania.
Sanofi posted 838 million lei (EUR192.4 million) sales in the October 2010-September 2011 year, and an 8.3% share of the local market, according to the data provided by market research firm Cegedim Romania. Second leading drug maker Roche, is only RON9 million (EUR2 million) behind.
After being appointed to his position at Sanofi Romania, Jacques Nathan retained his position as general manager of MCO Danube (Multi Countries Organization Danube), an organizational structure that includes Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Hungary. He had previously run Sanofi Bulgaria’s operations and came in Romania to replace Dan Ivan, who moved to Actavis’ Romanian business as country manager. Romania is the fastest-growing country in the region Nathan oversees.
Locally, prescription drugs (RX) generate 50% of the sales, while generics account for one third and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs account for 17% or 18%. Sanofi ranks third on the OTC market, after GlaxoSmithKline and Daiichi Sankyo, but Jacques Nathan says he wants the top position on this market, which is less affected by the changes in the industry.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)