Merck completes the sale of its production plant in Colombia Altea pharmaceutical s.a.
-Colombia production plant will continue producing Merck products for both the local market and export
-all employees of the plant have been transferred to Altea pharmaceutical S.A
-Merck S.A. will continue expanding in Colombia chemical and Merck Serono, Consumer Health Care Business
BogotáColombia, February 2012.- Merck S.A., the Colombian subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Germany, announced last Friday that has recently completed the sale of its pharmaceutical plant in Bogotá to Altea pharmaceutical S.A. Ambas companies signed a definitive agreement whereby Altea pharmaceutical S.A. acquired Merck S.A. in Bogot production facilitiesá and continue providing products of Merck for sale in Colombia and other Latin American countries.
The agreement also provides for the transfer of all employees working in the old production plant of Merck S.A. to Altea pharmaceutical S.A. All the transferred employees maintain their current employment conditions.
The management of Merck S.A. is convinced of having found in Altea pharmaceutical S.A. the ideal partner for the transfer of the plant’s production. “Can be sure that the quality of the manufacturing process will be maintained and that Altea pharmaceutical S.A. will continue offering excellent products to Merck and other companies of renowned in the region of Latin America.” We expect a relationship mutually beneficial. “, said Hernan Briceño, Director General of Merck S.A. in Colombia.”
The strategic decision to sell Merck S.A. in Colombia production plant is part of the overall effort of Merck to optimize its network of sites of manufacture. Merck S.A. has been in Colombia for 54 years and it will continue to grow with their business Merck Serono, Consumer Health Care and chemicals.
about Merck Serono
Merck Serono is the Division biopharmaceutical of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and sells prescription drugs, both chemical and biological origin indications of specialists. In the United States and Canada, EMD Serono operates as an independent subsidiary incorporated into Merck Serono.
Merck Serono has leading brands serving patients with cancer, Erbitux ® (cetuximab), multiple sclerosis (Rebif ® interferon beta-1a), infertility (Gonal-f ®, Alpha stimulating), endocrine and metabolic disorders (Saizen ®, Serostim somatropina), Kuvan ® (sapropterina octenidine) ® Egrifta (tesamorelin) as well as also diseases cardiometabólicas (Glucophage ®)(, metformin), Concor ® (bisoprolol) levothyroxine (Euthyrox ®). Not all products are available in all markets.
With an annual investment in research and development of more than € 1bn, Merck Serono is committed to grow your business in the therapeutic areas of specialties focused on neurodegenerative, Oncology, fertility and endocrinology diseases, as well as also the new areas that may result from the research and development in rheumatology.
About Merck
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total sales of € 9.3 billion in 2010, a history that began in 1668, and whose future they are forging more than 40,000 employees in 67 countries. Its success is based on innovations created by contributors with an entrepreneurial spirit. Operational activities of Merck are developed under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, which the Merck family owns approximately 70% and external shareholders own the remaining 30%. In 1917 the subsidiary in the United States.UU. Merck & Co. It was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.
Merck was established in Colombia in 1957 and since then he has explored different paths in pharmaceuticals, chemical business and production, with ambitious targets and innovative, sustained on corporate values, and leaving a lasting impression in the national industry. Chemical divisions and Merck Pharmaceutical, S.A. traded hundreds of products, with the support of research and development, which has helped Merck in Colombia guide the company towards the satisfaction of the needs of customers in various markets.
About Altea pharmaceutical S.A.
Altea pharmaceutical S.A. is a Colombian company newly created, composed of three members of the management team of the former plant of production of Merck S.A. and an investor strategic, a private company mainly dedicated to the sector of health in Latin America, including health services, pharmacies, hospitals and optical, among others.
