ADVERTORIAL
All the right connections
Genepharm Group will once again be exhibiting at CPhI, where it will be on the lookout for
familiar faces and fresh business opportunities. Ken Lianeas, executive vice-chairman and chief
operating officer, explains how partnerships are supporting Genepharm’s plans to expand in
several of the world’s major pharmaceutical markets
Athens-based Genepharm Group has been a generics and medical device sectors. We’re always on the lookout for
medicines player since 1967, providing its customers with opportunities in terms of companies planning to enter the
product development, manufacturing, marketing and Greek market.
distribution services in this field. The Greek firm has expertise
in manufacturing a range of solid conventional dosage forms, Q. What products will you showcase at CPhI?
oncology sterile forms and oncology solid orals, all in new or
The pharma industry has clearly demonstrated a renewed
newly equipped facilities. The conventional solid dosage forms
appetite for consolidation. Thus companies like Genepharm
plant, for instance, was renovated and reopened in 2005. The
need to work on boosting their “corporate leg speed” to
company’s oncology injectable dosage forms plant opened in
remain flexible and responsive to our customers’ needs,
November the following year. And the oncology oral dosage
thereby sustaining competitiveness.
forms plant followed nine months later in July 2007.
Slots have successfully been arranged with several EU
countries, through the decentralised procedure, for the
Q. What are Genepharm’s core areas of expertise?
following products: ibandronate, montelukast, exemestane,
Our core focus is product development and dossier
irbesartan, irbesartan HCTZ, desloratidine, desloratidine
compilation. We employ an experienced in-house team of
ODT, olanzapine ODT, donepezil ODT and capecitabine.
scientists responsible for delivering several new molecules
Our regulatory team has a wealth of experience in terms of
each year. This team conducts full patent searches,
running procedures for customers and offering regulatory
formulation and analytical development work, pilot-scale
support throughout the procedure.
production and stability trials – all to ensure that products
meet the demands of industry.
Our product development team is working hard on
several products at the moment. It has filed a patent for a
Genepharm also has a team of regulatory affairs specialists
Genepharm formulation of quetiapine XR and a decentralised
with many years experience of working with the world’s
procedure has been secured.
major regulatory agencies. In addition to compiling CTD
dossiers, this team can also take care of the regulatory
Q. How do partnerships support your strategy?
process for our customers: a significant value add.
We develop several new molecules each year, including
Thanks to our high-tech facilities, global business and conventional and value-added dosage forms. Our European
regulatory network, alongside our insights into the Greek sales team has made considerable progress over the past
pharma market, we’re expecting to welcome many visitors to 12 months, seeking licensing opportunities with selected
our stand – 10F24 – at CPhI this year. companies across Europe. We typically look for partners
with sound experience of their own respective markets. We
Q. What insights about the Greek pharma market can rely on them to drive Genepharm sales through European
you provide to your customers?
licensing and supply arrangements. The same applies in the
Greece continues to be a difficult market for foreign generics
US and Canada and with selected partners we are compiling
players and multinationals. Companies need robust on-the-
files for submission based on the IP developed for the
ground local knowledge to succeed in the country. Genepharm
European submission.
is in a good position to exploit the intricacies of the Greek Genepharm employs a different strategy in other regions.
market. Genepharm employs a highly-skilled sales and We often use distributors or local agents selling Genepharm
marketing team that promotes the firm’s products directly branded products, for example. At the moment, we’re
to more than 15,000 doctors and 7,000 pharmacists in the strengthening our network in the Middle East and we expect
region. In all other markets, we establish partnerships with company and product registrations to commence in the GCC
leading generics firms and distributors. later this year.
The Genepharm Group also comprises Greek companies that CPhI gives us the opportunity to meet with familiar faces as
distribute multinational firms’ products in the pharmaceutical well as forge new partnerships.
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