Medsintez to build new line to make Bayer products by 2017
MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - LLC Medsintez, a pharmaceuticals plant in Sverdlovsk Region that is part of LLC Juno Holding, plans to build a line by 2017 to manufacture the products of German chemical and drug company Bayer.
"The line is being built not just to produce contrast media, but also other products in liquid form. It will be built by 2017," Bayer HealthCare's general representative in Russia, Viktor Geisler said in an interview with Interfax.
The chairman of the Ural biomedical cluster Juno, Alexander Petrov told Interfax earlier that there were plans to spend 20 million euros on the construction of the production line. Medsintez plans to seek investors to finance the project.
Bayer general manager in Russia Vera Hahn told Interfax that the company would not be involved in financing Medsintez's project. "We're not a financial institution, we're not a bank, and I do not want to comment on Medsintez's investment plans," she said.
Bayer began manufacturing its first drug at Medsintez facilities - Avelox - in September-October 2013. Pilot production will be conducted for six months and in October, in the fourth quarter of 2014, commercial production of this drug will begin, Hahn said.
Bayer plans to begin secondary packaging of two other products at the facilities of the Russian company - Ultravist and Magnevist in 2014. "This year we plan to begin production of contrast media. In October we are starting secondary packaging of Magnevist, and at the beginning of next year Ultravist," Geisler said.
He also said that Bayer, expanding its presence on the Russian market, has signed an agreement on distribution of contrast media with Ural company Alfa Pharm.
Bayer and Medsintez signed an agreement in August 2013 on the production of Bayer products at the facilities of the Russian company. In future, the companies plan to cooperate in R&D and manufacturing of new substances and drugs.
Juno Holding includes more than ten companies in various businesses, including manufacturing of drugs, sales of medical equipment and materials, as well as construction and sales of construction and finishing materials.