The biggest generic drug manufacturer in the country Prati-Donaduzzi, a pharmaceutical laboratory from Paraná is now moving towards the nutraceutical market which according to most recent estimates presents a growth higher than 20% per year.
Nutraceuticals are functional foods based on nutrients such as minerals, proteins, vitamins and others that can aid in the prevention of diseases. The Company from Toledo (west of the State) - renowned by its investments in research and development - has launched in June the first products of its new line called Vigora. It is comprised by four multivitamins and three calcium supplements in gelatinous capsules.
Product distribution began in Paraná and will soon reach outlets in Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro. Eder Maffissoni, the Company’s VP, says the product is expected to be available country wide in 60 days. By the end of the year Prati-Donaduzzi expects to provide the market with 12 new products and the goal for 2016 is to launch two items every month. Among the Company’s 4.7 thousand employees 40 are fully dedicated to the production of the nutraceuticals.
“Our goal is to offer functional foods provided with pharmaceutical quality to the consumer, ensuring that everything on the label is what the consumer is getting”, says Maffissoni. He brings this point forward because since the nutraceutical are considered food articles they are subject to less strict laws than those applied to drugs.
Expansion
Prati-Donaduzzi has recently completed the implantation of its newest pharmaceutical products plant which is currently undergoing capacitation and certification by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). According to Maffissoni commercial manufacturing begins in August and it will be gradually increased. Employees for the new line will be hired in increments and will amount to 350 to 400 employees by January.
This new plant received R$ 150 million in investments over the last couple of years and improves in almost 50% Prati-Donaduzzi’s manufacturing capacity. The Company holds approximately 30% of the Brazilian generic drugs market and today it manufactures almost 12 billion therapeutic doses per year, expecting to provide 18 billion annual doses after the new line reaches full capacity.
Sales are still growing albeit reduced profits
The economic recession did not reduce the Company’s revenue growth rate, but it impacted in its profits.
According to Prati-Donaduzzi’s VP, Eder Maffissoni, sales present a steady 25% growth. “The pharmaceutical industry is less affected by the crisis since the demand for medicine and drugs are still there”.
A sharp increase in manufacturing costs is what actually affected the Company profits, according to him. “The rising of the Dollar resulted in an increase in imported input costs. Energy prices also skyrocketed, as well as fuel prices. The workforce is now more costly and our expenses in this area only seem to go up, considering the end of payroll tax exemptions”, he said. “Some of these costs were passed on to customers, but we also reduced our profits.”
In 2013 the Company had R$ 566 million in net revenue and R$ 34 million in profits according to the annual South’s Greatest from Revista Amanhã.
Source: Gazeta do Povo - 11/JUL/2015 - http://goo.gl/qw16xD
