01/12/2009 09h03
With US$ 9.9 billion in cash, Roche studies acquisitions
Valor Econômico 01/12/2009
The Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche has a war treasure of US$ 9.9 billion net in cash which it intends to use for acquisitions and partnerships, including in Brazil, amid the global financial crisis. Adriano Treve, CEO of Roche Brasil, told Valor the company is "on alert for opportunities that may appear in Brazil as well, working together with the head office". He sees "a great potential" for Roche to find "opportunities" in the country, before "many good projects" in the domestic market. The officer said the interest is to strengthen the current portfolio. The target is the therapeutic area, with the purpose of increasing its market share in the country. "We do not work in the area of antibiotics very much, and there is no point to expand in it", he affirms. In Brazil, until recently international pharmaceutical groups complained at the uncertainties to increase investments, due to the government threats of breaking patents of medicines. The CEO of Roche seems to be more confident now. "The situation may even change tomorrow, but there are no conflicts at the moment ", he affirmed. "Intellectual property right is the backbone of the pharmaceutical industry and the government understands it." For 2009, Adriano Treve says the company will continue with the investments on research and development of products in Brazil, integrated to the global projects of the company. In his assessment, the crisis will have a different effect on the pharmaceutical industry in the country. He sees a greater impact in the laboratories with greater clinical portfolio, which focus on retail. Working "in the long run", Roche wants to have progress this year with the launching of products with already available molecules, against arthritis and renal anemia, for example. The medicine export plans from the plant in Rio de Janeiro are ambitious, and they also aim at the European market. There are basically two products: Marcoumar (for blood coagulation) and Bactrim (antibiotic).
