BIAL Gets the rating of “Very good” in the category of business investment in r & d Plan PROFARMA.

-el Plan PROFARMA is a joint initiative of the Ministry of industry, tourism and trade, health and Social policy and science and innovation, which aims to increase activities of r & d in the pharmaceutical sector

– BIAL is framed within the Group A, i.e. the companies with research significant activity with plant production or r & d Center Own

-laboratory has recently strengthened its presence in Spain through the construction of a new centre of excellence in Bilbao

– new plant BIAL in Bilbao is based on biotechnology processes and will enable the research and production of customized antiallergic vaccines

Madrid, March 2012.- the Committee of the promotion Plan of scientific research, development and technological innovation (RDI) in the pharmaceutical industry (PROFARMA) has awarded its call for 2011, the rating of very good ” to BIAL, one of the main pharmaceutical groups in the Iberian Peninsula with a strong presence in the market portugués and holds a leading position in Spain and Portugal in allergic immunotherapy products.

BIAL is part of the Group A, i.e. the companies with significant research activity and production plant or own r & d Center. Plan PROFARMA is a joint initiative of the Ministry of industry, tourism and trade, health and Social policy and science and innovation, which aims to increase r & d activities in the pharmaceutical sector. In this regard, the classification of enterprises is carried out according to parameters, economic, industrial and research and development and in this case, values BIAL effort by its effort to invest in r & d and in new industrial plants.

The laboratory has recently reinforced its presence in Spain through the construction of a new centre of excellence in the Science Park and technological Vizcaya in Bilbao, which has invested 12 million euros. In addition, for the development projects of antiallergic vaccines and diagnostic tools that the company already has underway, BIAL plans an investment of EUR 28 million more.

Products which will take place on the floor of Bilbao represent a very important qualitative technological leap and placed the company in a competitive position in relation to other foreign pharmaceutical companies operating in this area of business.

BIAL, which has climbed two positions in this ranking with respect to previous calls, has a team of multidisciplinary technology consisting of 20 technicians and scientists trained in biology, biotechnology, medicine and pharmacy. For António Portela, is of a combination that allows to deal successfully with a research laboratory and clinical components ”.

Research and vaccine production

Currently, BIAL is one of the main pharmaceutical groups in the Iberian Peninsula and occupies a leading position in the production of allergic immunotherapy products. Spain is the main international market and pillar of the project of internationalization of the business, particularly in the area of allergic immunotherapy where the company wants to position as a global player and significantly increase the volume of exports from Bilbao in the coming years.

Want to centralize the production and research in the area of allergic immunotherapy in Spain and create the necessary conditions so that BIAL is a major company worldwide in the marketing and development of vaccines and Diagnostics ”, said António PortelaCEO of the BIAL group.

In recent years BIAL began an important process of internationalization and is currently present in nearly 50 countries. Their sales in international markets represent nearly 40% of the total turnover of the company. The Group also has facilities in Italy, Mozambique, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire and Panama.

Pharmaceutical account with more than 800 employees and its turnover is around EUR 140 million.

About BIAL

Founded in 1924, BIAL is an international pharmaceutical group with own research that sells various products in nearly 50 countries, on four continents. BIAL is the largest Portuguese pharmaceutical group. In Spain BIAL centralizes the production of antiallergic vaccines and means of diagnostics for allergies for different markets where it operates.

The BIAL group is a partner of choice for many companies in response to its strong presence in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as in Latin America and Africa, French and Portuguese-speaking countries.

BIAL is strongly committed to therapeutic innovation, investing more than 20% of its annual turnover in I & D. Main areas of research and enterprise development are the Central nervous system, the Cardiovascular System and the allergic immunotherapy.

The recent launch of the antiepileptic ® Zebinix already allows the presence of the BIAL group, through a commercial partner, in various European countries, among which are big markets pharmacists, case of Germany and United Kingdom. Currently, BIAL has other innovative products in development that will probably reach the market in the coming years consolidating the position of the company in Europe.