Since the beginning of this year, the topic of the availability of medicines in the Czech market has been resonating in the public debate. Zentiva, as a domestic manufacturer, is a widely discussed player. The company has its global headquarters and production plant in Dolní Měcholupy, Prague, from where its medicines go not only to Czech pharmacies but also to a number of foreign markets. Why is it advantageous to have pharmaceutical production in the Czech Republic, how will it grow, and what does Zentiva provide for Czech patients? We discussed all this with Zentiva Czech Republic’s CEO, Boris Sananes.
Zentiva is a traditional brand in the Czech Republic. What is your position here?
Our roots go back to the 15th century, to the pharmacy U Černého orla (The Black Eagle) in the Lesser Town. We have a really long tradition of producing quality generic medicines here. And this year, the Zentiva brand itself will celebrate 20 years of existence. We currently supply the Czech market with a portfolio of 205 different molecules, which amounts to around 25 million packs of medicine per year. These are mainly prescription drugs. Our strongest areas are the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, pain and central nervous system treatment, urology, gynaecology, allergy, and asthma. We expand our portfolio with 15–20 new products each year, contributing to expanding access to affordable and modern treatments for Czech patients. The majority of this portfolio, approximately 65%, is also manufactured in Prague.
You mention domestic production. Does this bring any advantage for the Czech Republic in the context of the availability of medicines and other aspects?
I see a number of benefits in several areas. The first is flexibility and the ability to react flexibly to the needs of the Czech market, thanks to the fact that we are close and see trends in time. If there is a rapid increase in demand for a drug in Czech pharmacies and we have it in our portfolio and registered in the Czech Republic, can adjust our production planning accordingly. For example, at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we ensured the availability of drugs for intensive care, especially shock therapy, thanks to local production, even though no one could have accurately predicted the increase in consumption at the beginning of the pandemic. Another advantage is job creation; we have more than 1,500 employees in Prague, and compared to other industries, the average value added created by each Zentiva employee is more than double. We believe that the pharmaceutical industry is a strategic sector that can contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the Czech economy. In recent months, we have also seen that it is more important than ever to keep the know-how of drug production in Europe and to promote greater independence from imports from other continents.
Where does Zentiva plan to grow? In the context of the economic situation, do you have any room for growth?
The last two years have been full of big challenges, but Zentiva is an agile and stable company. We have a strong investor behind us, Advent International, which fully supports Zentiva’s development. We are growing and expanding production, hiring over 100 new employees in the last year alone, and still looking for more. We are about to launch several more new medicines and strengthen the so-called Consumer Healthcare, which is over-the-counter products. This will enable us to offer people comprehensive health support. Several well-known and strong brands, such as Celaskon, B-complex and Pancreolan, which historically belonged to Zentiva, will return to our portfolio this year. We are gradually taking them back from our previous owner. We also have the vision to create a cancer drug research and development centre, but this is a large and complex project still in its early stages.
You mentioned that the Zentiva brand would celebrate 20 years. How do you personally feel about it?
I am definitely proud of it. I have been working at Zentiva for almost 10 years now and I see our work is really worthwhile. What we do has a real impact on people’s lives. Many people in the Czech Republic and across Europe need our products every day. We are a strong and resilient company, and I am very optimistic about our future. I am also delighted that Zentiva has taken on the theme of not only the health of people but also the health of our planet. We are taking real steps to reduce the environmental impact of our activities. We are planting a tree for every employee in the Czech Republic, we plan to install solar panels on the roofs of our Prague production site, and we have also committed to zero landfill within the Czech Republic. I care about keeping our planet beautiful and healthy for my children and their children, and I am glad that we share that with Zentiva.
Thank you for the
