The investment that provides the solution for Greece and Europe

Pharmaceutical company DEMO is completing new production units that will contribute to the EU’s drive to achieve drug sufficiency and autonomy.

An end to the shortages of basic medicines in Greece and Europe in the coming years. This is the strategic goal of the DEMO pharmaceutical company’s plans, and its new production units in Tripoli Arcadia are being implemented in this direction.

The campus of the pharmaceutical industry will be located in the 3 largest production units of penicillin and oncology drugs in Europe. Thus, for the first time in Greece, raw materials for medicines, as well as final pharmaceutical products of chemical origin, will be produced.

The first phase is expected to be completed in mid-2025. According to the planning, and with the completion of the second phase a little later, the DEMO will be able to cover 34% of the European Union’s penicillin needs and 35% of the oncology drugs it will produce.

This important development will give solution to a problem exacerbated by the pandemic. During its duration, significant shortages of essential drugs (e.g. anaesthetics, antibiotics, analgesics, etc.) were observed.

The problem is due to the fact that the EU is so far dependent on third countries to procure the active substances, but also the final pharmaceutical products it needs.

The raw materials of medicines are outside the EU

Almost 60% of the global production of active substances and corresponding generics takes place in India and Chinaa. China is the largest producer of raw materials and India the largest producer of finished drugs.

However, the manufacturer of the active ingredient in Asia is usually the same one that supplies both the originator and the generic manufacturer. In both cases, the final product is the one that goes on the European market.

The restrictions on movement (lockdown) set by the pandemic in India and China had a direct impact on the production and distribution of active substances and final medicines on the international – and therefore on the European – market.

Even today there are many shortcomings in essential medicines across Europe.

DEMO answers in practice

With the development and production of raw materials on European soil, the EU will gradually gain sufficiency and autonomy from third countries in the vital sector of Health. In other words, its supply of medicines will no longer depend on unexpected events in countries outside European territory.

In addition, the production of raw materials will be fueled by research activity in the new DEMO Research & Development Center in Thessaloniki. It is the largest Center of its kind in the region, in which research activities have already begun. The goal is growth five new active raw materials and 21 finished pharmaceutical products each year.

Strategic investments for all of Europe

The adequacy and autonomy of Greece and the EU in medicines was the goal of the multifaceted investment program carried out by DEMO.

In its context, the production capacity in Attica is being expanded, the factory in Tripoli and a Biotechnology center in Attica are being built, and a Research & Development Center is already operating in Thessaloniki.

An investment that is expected to benefit both the National Economy and the social fabric. On the one hand, it will ensure access to medicines for the Greek patient, on the other hand it will strengthen the important effort to create incentives, and it will stop the scientific “bleeding” of Greece.