American Genzyme assesses having own plant in Brazil
Valor Econômico
American pharmaceutical Genzyme should define if it will have a plant in Brazil in the coming months. The decision should be taken until the end of the year, said Rogério Vivaldi, Global President of the company for the Renal and Endocrinology Division to Valor. Vivaldi, who was the General Director of the group for Latin America, was promoted and became one of the four International Presidents of Genzyme this month. The decision of having an own plant in Brazil should be discussed with the headquarters of the pharmaceutical company in the coming months. According to Vivaldi, the company may acquire a small- to medium-sized laboratory in the country, as a strategy to have a productive basis. "Partnerships with universities and institutions should also be intensified", said the executive.
Genzyme is the fourth largest company of the biotech segment in the world and it focuses on genetic diseases - to fight cases of Gaucher and Fabry disease, for instance -, besides renal, orthopedic, oncologic and endocrine diseases. To take the office of Vivaldi in Latin America, the company has appointed Executive Frederic Turner, prior President of the company in France, who takes office as of July 1st. In Brazil, the command is already in the hands of Executive Eliana Tameirão. The international subsidiaries of Genzyme are responsible for 55% of the sales of the company in the world. "Brazil is one of the five biggest subsidiaries", said Vivaldi. Nearly 30 research centers in Brazil are currently carrying out studies with the pharmaceutical company and nearly 40 people of the company are involved.
In 2009, Genzyme registered earnings of US$ 4.9 billion. The region of Latin America has presented revenues of US$ 300 million - Brazil is responsible for 50% of that result. "The country is one of the countries that advance the most in cellular technology. The researches with stem cells are developing rapidly in the country", said Vivaldi. The Division the Executive starts coordinating generated more than US$ 1 billion in the world last year.
The several partnerships of Genzyme with multinational companies and research institutions in Brazil and abroad put the company among the main pharmaceutical in biotechnology in the world. Vivaldi was responsible for the arrival of Genzyme to Brazil. A Ph.D in Endocrinology, graduated from UniRio (University of Rio de Janeiro), the Executive began observing the first Brazilian patient diagnosed with a rare disease called Gaucher disease in 1992. With the success of the case, the doctor was appointed to work in other cases. In 1997, he was invited to implement the company in Brazil.
In 2005, from President of the company in the country, he started coordinating Latin America. This year, Genzyme inaugurated in country a division of clinical research and, for this year, nearly ten clinical trials are planned, with nearly 300 patients in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Chile.