Lithuania's Sanitas to Build New Production Facility

Leading Lithuanian drugmaker Sanitas is to build a new factory in Kaunas, Lithuania, which it claims will have capacity for 1bn pills, 120 million ampoules, and up to 12 million bottles of eye drops and other products. The total cost of the new project, which was announced via the country's main news agency, is estimated at EUR14.8mn (US$11.95mn), and will be partly met from EU funds.

Sanitas has gone from strength to strength in 2004, and is already the country's clear market leader. The company posted a 39% increase in sales for the year, to some LTL43.3mn (US$16.42mn). Sales in 2003 totalled LTL31.15mn (US$11.95mn). Sanitas has carried out a number of regional acquisitions in recent months, in an attempt to broaden its international profile. The company's purchase of Lithuanian-Norwegian drugmaker Altisana has effectively concentrated the sector between Sanitas and main rival Valentis, as the local industry continues to consolidate.