AstraZeneca: no lay-offs in Poland

AstraZeneca, an international drug manufacturer, sold medicines worth PLN 329m (€85m) in Poland in 2006. The company expects further dynamic growth of sales in this country this year, Jerzy Garlicki, AstraZeneca president in Poland, told Pharma Poland News, even though the company did not have any new medicines included on the lists of reimbursed drugs in the last amendment.

It can also be assumed that AstraZeneca is analysing the option of implementing an exclusive distribution model in Poland, something that Pfizer is to launch in the UK in March and is also considering in Poland. Asked by Pharma Poland News whether AstraZeneca is also considering it in the country, Mr Garlicki explained that the company is carefully observing the changes occurring on the pharmaceutical market, and any decisions in the matter will depend on the results of analysis of the impact of these changes on the shape of the market.

Mr Garlicki also revealed to us that he does not expect the 3,000 redundancies worldwide announced recently to affect Poland. They are chiefly to take place in manufacturing departments, which the company does not have in the country.

The company also conducts clinical research in Poland, for which it set aside over PLN 22m (€5.7m) in the first 10 months of 2006, against PLN 19m (€4.7m) in 2005.
Source:polishmarket.com