Zentiva’s sales drop 19%

According to Jozef Belcik, Country General Manager for Zentiva Romania, the company focused on a rise in profitability even if there was a drop in both sales and market share.

“The evolution of Zentiva’s sales in Romania in the fourth quarter confirms that stabilizing strategy, an increase in profitability, and long-term company development are functioning and represent a solid platform for sustainable evolution on the local market,” says Belcik.

Net global sales rose to some 16.7 billion Czech crowns (some €654 mln) in 2007, 19 percent higher than 2006. Zentiva posted sales worth CZK 5.5 bln (some €214.4 mln) in Q4 of 2007, 34 percent higher year-on-year.

In September 2005, Zentiva took over investment company Venoma Holdings Limited, owner of a 51 percent share package of drug producer Sicomed, increasing its control to about 75 percent.

The company’s main competitors on the local market are Terapia Ranbaxy, Sandoz and Gedeon Richter.