Pfizer Inc, the world’s largest drug maker, yesterday said its Taiwanese subsidiary had made inroads into the Colombian market, marking a new chapter in its export business. The Taiwanese factory had only shipped drugs to the Asia-Pacific region in the past.
With exports of the flu medicine Dristan to Colombia starting this month, the Taiwanese operation expects to see 15 percent growth in export revenues this year to NT$700 million (US$21.2 million), said Tom Chang (張振棠), site leader of Pfizer’s factory in Hsinchu.
MANUFACTURING
Pfizer — the maker of the impotence drug Viagra and cholesterol pill Lipitor — is the only company among its US and European peers that has a manufacturing operation in Taiwan.
It produces and packages drugs and vitamins and markets them in Taiwan under the brand names Centrum (善存) and Robitussin (諾比舒咳), among others.
It also exports drugs to 12 major markets in the Asia-Pacific, including Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Thailand.
“We will continue to expand the export business,” Chang said.
Several drugs are being registered in various markets and will be launched when the company gets the green light from authorities, he told reporters during a tour of the company’s factory in Hsinchu.
Pfizer took over the operation from Wyeth after buying Wyeth last October for US$68 billion. The acquisition is designed to help Pfizer address various challenges, including generic competition for top products.
Wyeth has four factories in the world — Taiwan, China, India and Pakistan. Pfizer has a larger network, including facilities in China, Australia, Japan, Pakistan, India and Indonesia.
RESTRUCTURING
Restructuring after the acquisition continues, Chang said, adding that the Hsinchu factory occupies a niche among Pfizer’s facilities in Asia, and the company would stress its importance to headquarters.
“The location in Taiwan enables a shorter lead time as we can react to clients’ needs faster,” he said.
Over the next few months, the headquarters will evaluate each factory site around the world to integrate its global supply chain.
“Some will continue operating, while others will retrench,” Chang said.
“Some drug productions will be allocated to different sites,” he added.
Expanding overseas to promote exports and boost revenues will help the Hsinchu plant stay competitive, he said.
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