Gedeon Richter Romania' sales up 69.5% to 158m euros last year

Gedeon Richter sales on the Romanian market rose by 69.5% last year, to 158 million euros, from 93.2 million euros in 2007, which include the results of several wholesalers and retailers purchased in 2007, the Hungarian pharmaceutical group announced on Wednesday. On the pharmaceuticals segment, Gedeon Richter's business fell 6.8%, to 23.3 million euros, from 25 million euros, due to the decline in the price of generic drugs and to the "unfavourable" regulation changes operated last year. The biggest sales declines were recorded by Terbisil and Tamsol brands, whereas Quamatel, Aflamin and Mydocalm performed well, according to a report of the Hungarian group, sent to the Budapest stock exchange. On the wholesale and retail segments, sales of companies held by Gedeon Richter in Romania, i.e. Dita Import-Export, Pharmafarm and Gedeon Richter Farmacia saw an almost twofold rise, from 76.4 million euros to 146.8 million euros, which was mainly generated by the inclusion of the consolidated results of several companies bought in 2007.