Holding the title of the fifth largest industry in the continent, the European pharmaceutical sector is hard to compete with in terms of generating a trade surplus, investing in research and development (R&D) and producing skilled employees.1 A large percentage of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing takes place in Western Europe. However, certain Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are emerging as competitive and sought-after alternatives, combining top quality workforces with cost-effective contract development and manufacturing services, all within an EU regulatory environment.
Although the European pharmaceutical industry has continued to grow at a fast pace during the last decade, it has also faced a number of challenges, such as escalating drug development costs and downward price pressures from healthcare systems and governments. Alongside this, there has been an increased demand for faster turnaround times to bring to market more quickly and efficiently. It is these challenges that have paved the way for CEE contract partners to position themselves as reliable and cost-effective alternatives for outsourcing requirements that span manufacturing, development and regulatory support services.
This highly competitive market is forecast to continue to grow, and CEE CDMOs are increasingly able to offer advantages compared with their Western counterparts. One of the leading lights in the CEE region is Slovakia. Centrally located in Europe, a member of the Eurozone and boasting a highly skilled population, the country is one to watch in the sector. In this article, Anthony Sheehan, CEO of Saneca Pharma, discusses the benefits of developing and manufacturing pharmaceutical products in Slovakia.
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