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Chemical andPharmaceuticalIndustry on the Rise

Karel Tureček, Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-mail: turecek@mpo.cz, www.mpo.cz

We come across chemical products in every aspect of ourlives. This branch is truly a key segment of the Czechmanufacturing industry. The year 2005 was favourablefor the Czech chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Incomparison with previous years, revenue from the saleof the industries’ own products and services (in constantprices) increased by more than 13 %. The figureshowing labour productivity from book added value roseby nearly 7 % year-on-year, while the number ofemployees increased by only 1.3 %.

Exports and ImportsThis branch also did well in terms of trade exchange.Exports of chemical products in 2005 rose by 21.5 % incomparison with the previous year and for the first timein the history of the Czech Republic exceeded the EUR3.5 billion mark. Imports rose by 12.3 % to EUR 6.4billion, somewhat less, nonetheless, the impact ofexchange rates resulted in a slight deepening of thebranch’s trade deficit, by approx. EUR 55 million ona year-on-year basis. The Czech Republic’s joining the EUcaused no serious problems in the chemical industry; onthe contrary, it enabled this country to increase its tradeexchange with the EU25. For illustration: in 2005 theEU25 accounted for more than 78 % of theCR’s chemical exports and for more than 80 % of itsimports.

Investment in the Chemical IndustryThe chemical industry is one of the most demandingbranches in terms of capital investment, and in view ofits complicated production processes and technologies,it requires a highly skilled workforce and considerableinvestment in research and development. The annualvolume of gross investment in recent years rangesaround EUR 300-330 million, which shows a rate ofinvestment in the CR much lower than that common inother developed western countries. In the CR investmentamounts to just 1 %, while in the old EU states thisfigure ranges between 3 and 4 %. The largestinvestment projects completed in the CR in the past twoyears include two new modern plants of Spolchemie:one for the production of low-molecular resins and theother for the production of non-saturated polyester andalkyd resins, all of the highest world standard. Anotherimportant project is the intensification of anilineproduction in BorsodChem – MCHZ, which ranks the CR

CZECH CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRYSupplement of:Czech Business and Trade 01-02/2007

C Z E C H C H E M I C A L A N D P H A R M A C E U T I C A L I N D U S T R Y

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MK ČR E 6379

This magazine is published as a supplement to the economic bi-monthly issued in English(Czech Business and Trade), German (Wirtschaft und Handel in der TschechischenRepublik), French (Industrie et commerce tchèques), Spanish (Empresas y negocios en laRepública Checa), and Russian (óe¯cÍafl Úop„o‚Îfl Ë Ôe‰ÔËÌËÏaÚeθcÚ‚o).

Managing Editor: Jana VápeníkováEditor: Naďa VávrováGraphic Design: Helena Dvořáková, Miloslav Bucvan

Address: PP Agency, s.r.o., Myslíkova 25110 00 Praha 1, Czech RepublicPhone: +420 221 406 623, 221 406 626Fax: +420 224 934 383E-mail: journal@ppagency.czwww.ppagency.czwww.mpo.cz/cbt

Deadline: 24/11/2006

Attitudes expressed by the authors of articles in this magazine are not necessarilyconsistent with the viewpoint of the Publisher.

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CONTENTS:INTRODUCTION

3 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry on the Rise

ANALYSIS4 Current Situation and Future Prospects of the Pharmaceutical Industry5 Irreplaceable Role of the Chemical Industry

LEGISLATION8 The Impact of REACH on Czech Chemical Industry and Trade8 Czech Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry

INVESTMENT10 The Czech Republic, a Foundation for Top Biotechnological Research

EDUCATION12 Education of Young Pharmacists and Researchers in the Czech Republic

WE ARE INTRODUCING14 Leader on the Pharmaceutical Market

ENTERPRISE16 Walmark Aspires to Become Europe’s Largest Dietary Supplement Manufacturer

CZECH TOP18 Improving the Quality of Life20 Lovochemie Boosts Czech Agriculture22 Specialist in the Manufacture of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT23 Czech Chemical Research in the Course of History24 Important Manufacturing Processes from the Laboratory of a Czech Chemist25 New Opportunities for Biotechnology

SURVEY26 Poll of Successful Companies Operating in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries

INFORMATION30 Exhibitions and Fairs in the Area of Chemistry and Pharmacy in the Czech Republic in 200730 Important Contacts

PRESENTATION OF COMPANIES:2 Spolek pro chemickou a hutní výrobu, a.s.15 RosenPharma a.s.17 WALMARK, a.s.19 Interpharma Praha, a.s.31 Enaspol a.s.32 Zentiva, a.s.Ing. Petr Švec – PENTA; BRAINWAY Inc. s.r.o.; IREL, spol. s r.o.; Lučební závody Draslovka a.s. Kolín;BOCHEMIE s.r.o.; AVEFLOR, a.s.; SAVONIA s.r.o.; GEOTEK, spol. s r.o.

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Current Situation and Future Prospects of the Pharmaceutical Industry

Milan Dráždil, Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-mail: drazdil@mpo.cz, www.mpo.cz

The pharmaceutical industry (NACE24.4) is a category of fine chemistry, itstypical feature being the high degree ofvalorization of basic raw materials. Theadded value in drugs and substances isbased on technologies that requiredemanding research and developmentand a ski l led labour force. Thepharmaceutical industry is divided intotwo product groups – the manufactureof basic pharmaceutical products (NACE24.41) and the manufacture of finalpharmaceutical preparations (NACE24.42), represented in the CR mainly bygenerics. In 2005, for example, class24.42 accounted for more than 72 % ofthe sector’s total revenue.

Current Situation in the SectorIn 2005, the Czech pharmaceuticalindustry accounted for 16.8 % of totalrevenue in the chemical industry (NACE24), for 25 % of the industry’s bookadded value and for 23.7 % of thenumber of employees. In terms of themanufacturing industry as a whole, thissector accounts for approx. 0.9 % ofrevenue, for approx. 1.5 % of bookadded value and for approx. 0.7 % ofthe number of employees.

A total 46 business entities with 20 ormore employees are currently operatingin this sector. In the past few years, mostCzech pharmaceutical firms have been

on the receiving end of foreign capital,mainly American, British, Swiss, andCroat ian investment. This hasundoubtedly helped ra ise theircompetitiveness on both the Czech andforeign markets.

According to expert estimates, nearlyEUR 2.15 billion was spent on medicinesin the CR in 2005, and this volumecontinues to rise year after year.Between 2002 and 2004, medicinalexpenses grew year-on-year by 10 %,while in 2005 the growth was only halfthat figure. The CR holds a leadingposition in Europe in the number of dailydoses. In terms of money spent ondrugs, however, the CR ranks lower onthe European scale. Drugs in the CR are

cheaper than elsewhere on thecontinent, as most of them are generics.

As regards health protection, the sectorremains continuously in the centre ofinvestor interest. This is reflected in thelarge number of investment projects,which have already been completed or are being implemented bypharmaceutical companies such asZENTIVA, WALMARK, FARMAK,CHEMOPHARMA, BIOVETA, PLIVA-LACHEMA, SYNTHON, and others.

To draw a comparison, it is interestingto note that in 2000 this sectoremployed more than 477 000 people inthe EU15, less than 2 % of the EUmanufacturing industry (in the CR thiswas only 0.74 % in 2005). In the EU,

among the world’s leading manu-facturers of this important commodity.Moreover, the sale of the licence for thisproduction by BC-MCHZ to Japan isconsidered a great success.

Future Development of the BranchThe development of the main industrial

indicators of the branch in 2006 showsthat the growth rate will not be as highas in the previous two years. This is notonly attributable to the high prices ofcrude oil, oil products and energy, butalso to the slower growth of demand inEurope. In spite of this, the prospects forthe chemical industry are mostlyoptimistic, as illustrated, for example, by

the latest prognosis of the EuropeanChemical Industry Council of June 2006,which foresees output of the chemicalindustry in the EU25 to grow by 2.6 % in2006 in comparison to 2.4 % in 2005. In2007, the growth rate is expected todrop to 2.2 %.

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Basic indicators of sector 24.4 in the period 2000–2005 Million EUR/persons 2000 2002 2004 2005* 05/04 (in %)Revenues from the sale of own products (const. prices) 407 604 709 857 120.9Number of persons employed 6 567 8100 9177 9955 108.5Exports (current prices, CPA) 272 319 437 563 128.8Imports (current prices, CPA) 844 1168 1551 1726 112.3Labour productivity based on book added value (const. prices) in EUR thous. per employee 25.6 32.0 27.9 31.6 113.3

* estimateCPA – Classification of Products by ActivitySource: Czech Statistical Office, calculation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

too, large firms with 250 or moreemployees dominate the sector, bygenerating 80 % of total book addedvalue, while small enterprises with up to49 persons generate a mere 4 %. Therevenue of the pharmaceutical industryin the EU25 in 2004 amounted to EUR165 billion, accounting for 28.2 % oftotal revenue of the NACE 24 branch,while in the CR this was only 17.5 % inthat same year. Added value per workerin the pharmaceutical industry in theEU25 reached EUR 132 000, while in theCR the figure in 2004 amounted to lessthan a quarter of that, namely EUR 31 000. In terms of kilogram exportprices, Czech exports, too, lag behinddeveloped countries, with CR exportsequal to just 40 % of the country’skilogram import prices. Even the largestCzech pharmaceutical firms lag farbehind global leaders. By far the largestof them is ZENTIVA a.s . , whichgenerated approximately EUR 420million in revenue in 2005, while therevenue of the world number one,PFIZER, USA, amounted to EUR 38billion, roughly ninety times the amountof Zentiva’s revenue.

It is clear from the table on p. 4 that in2005 most indicators of the sector weredeveloping favourably, with theexception of the balance of trade. Thedeficit amounted to EUR 1163 million,the highest of seven product sectors of

the chemical industry. It is necessary tokeep in mind, however, that in terms ofNACE calculations, i.e. where importsonly serve the sector’s own needs, thebalance of trade is slightly positive, witha surplus of approximately EUR 145-150million.

First Half of 2006In 2006 (figures for the first half) thedevelopment of revenue in the two sub-sectors varied. While in sub-sector 24.42,revenues grew by more than 3 %, in thebasic pharmaceutical products sub-sectorthey dropped by nearly 6 % incomparison with the same period of2005. This suggests that in 2006 revenuein the sector will most probably increaseonly slightly, by approx. 1-2 %, and thesame trend is likely to affect book addedvalue. In terms of foreign trade, on theother hand, pharmaceutical exports fromthe CR increased by 17.3 % betweenJanuary and August 2006 in comparisonwith the same period of the previousyear, while imports increased by a mere0.6 %. This trend can be viewed ina positive light, as the negative balancedecreased by nearly EUR 60 million.

The Sector’s Outlook for the Immediate FutureThe outlook for the sector’s immediatefuture is favourable, as the affect ofcyclic fluctuations on the demand for

pharmaceutical products is minimal inmost significant economies. Futuredevelopment will, however, largelycorrelate with the ageing of thepopulation as well as with progress inmedicine and with the development oftechnologies, etc. Demand in the area ofveterinary products will be equallydependent on development trends. Atthe same time, the interest of investorsin pharmacy is expected to last.

Undoubtedly the most important eventin pharmacy in recent years was themerger in 2005 of Léčiva, a.s. andSlovakofarma, a.s. to ZENTIVA, a.s. Theresulting business entity ranked 46thamong the TOP 100 largest Czechcompanies in terms of revenue. Zentivahas thus established a leading positionfor itself in Eastern Europe in themanufacture and distribution of brandgenerics. It has strengthened its positionon the Polish and Russian markets andentered the Romanian market with itsacquisition of Sicomed. From a long-term point of view, Zentiva’s shares areamongst the most successful titles onthe Prague Stock Exchange. They arealso traded on the London market. Otherpharmaceutical firms are planning toincrease their production in the comingyears. This sector is thus expected tobecome one of the most dynamic sectorsin the Czech chemical industry.

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Irreplaceable Role of the Chemical Industry

Blanka Ksandrová, Milan Dráždil, Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-mail: ksandrova@mpo.cz, drazdil@mpo.cz, www.mpo.cz

The chemical industry and pharmacy(NACE 24) play an irreplaceable role inthis country’s manufacturing industry, asits products are used in practically allareas of the Czech economy.

In 2005, this sector accounted for 5.4 % of the revenue of the Czechmanufacturing industry, for 5.6 % ofbook added value and for 3.1 % ofemployees. The NACE 24 branch isdivided into seven product sectors,

where 60 % of total revenue wasaccounted for by basic chemicals, 17 %by pharmaceuticals and other products,10 % by detergents, cosmetics, andperfumes, 9 % by fine chemistryproducts and chemical fibres, 3 % bypaints, and the remaining 1 % bypesticides and agrochemicals.

In view of the character of the branch,the decisive share of revenue andcreated added value is accounted for by

firms with over 250 employees. Themost successful firms in terms of revenuein the TOP 100 ranking for 2005included five chemical firms with theUNIPETROL petrochemical holding inthird place and i ts aff i l iat ion,CHEMOPETROL, 21st.

Exports and ImportsThe branch also has an importantposition in terms of trade exchange. In

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2005, chemical exports amounted toEUR 3.7 billion and imports to EUR 6.4billion, which lead to a deficit of EUR 2.7billion. Germany remains the CR’s toppartner in chemical t rade, witha turnover of EUR 2.7 billion in 2005, ofwhich Czech exports totalled EUR 0.9billion and imports EUR 1.8 billion.Germany was followed by Slovakia(turnover of EUR 853 million) and Poland(turnover of EUR 705 million).

Economic Results Continue to ImproveThe economic results of the branch for2005 can be characterised as favourable,as most of the main industrial and

financial indicators showed an increasein comparison to 2004. For instance thevolume of book added value was up by8.4 %, revenues up by 13.1 %, exportsup by 21.5 % and labour productivitybased on book added value was up by6.8 %. The number of employees in theperiod under review grew by 1.3 %.

InvestmentThe volume of gross investment in thebranch in recent years has rangedaround EUR 286-325 million. The mostimportant projects completed in 2005and 2006 include the opening of twonew plants – for the production of low-molecular resins and the production ofunsaturated polyester res ins; theexpansion of ani l ine product ion,installation of a new ammonia reactor,the launch of several newpharmaceutical production lines and theexpansion of titanium white production.

Economic Development in theBranch in 2006Current figures indicate that results for

the year 2006 could be slightly higherthan those for the previous year: revenuefor the first half rose by a mere 1.7 % incomparison with the same period of2005, monthly revenue per employeewent up by the same percentage, whilstthe number of employees dropped by3.6 % on a year-on-year basis. Thereasons for this include the slightslackening of economic activity in the CRas well as on foreign markets and inparticular the growth of oil prices andthe prices of other sources of energy.The performance of leading Czechchemical companies varies greatly. Therevenue of CHEMOPETROL in 2006, forinstance, grew dynamically, whilst in the

case of other aff i l iat ions of theUNIPETROL holding, such as KAUČUKand SPOLANA, revenues remainedstagnant. This may be caused toa certain degree by the fact that thesecompanies were offered up for sale at the beginning of 2006. Thedevelopment of foreign trade inchemical products remained dynamicand the turnover of the NACE 24 branchin the period between January andAugust rose by EUR 902 million incomparison with the same period in2005, although the deficit for the sameperiod rose by EUR 255 million, of whichthe NACE 24.4 (pharmaceuticals) andNACE 24.1 (basic chemicals) displayedthe highest deficit.

Position of the Czech ChemicalIndustry in the European UnionThe Czech chemical industry as well asthe Czech chemicals market arerelatively small on an international scale,both in terms of turnover and generatedadded value. According to EUROSTATfigures for 2004, total revenue in the

EU25 amounted to EUR 586 billion, ofwhich EUR 559 billion were accountedfor by old member states. The share ofthe Czech Republic in total EU25revenue was lower than 0.8 %, and in2005 this percentage is expected tochange only minimally. The CR also lagsbehind industrialized countries in theshare of created added value in revenue.The figure for the CR ranges around 25 %, while in the EU25 it is on average32.6 %. A distinct difference can also beobserved in the balance of trade. Whilein the EU25 the balance of trade in 2004was largely favourable (EUR +71 billion),in the CR the balance displayed a deficit(EUR -2.7 billion).

The Immediate Prospects of the BranchOne of the decisive factors for the furtherdevelopment of the chemical industry inthe CR and the world is the developmentof world oil prices. This, together withthe growth of energy prices, mainlynatural gas, strongly influences thecompetitiveness of the branch. Thebusinesses most strongly affected arethose with the highest consumption ofoil and oil products. Here too, however,great differences can exist, as certainfirms have prepared well for thisdevelopment and can make effective useof oil whilst profiting from the highdemand for chemicals and from thefavourable global economic develop-ment. Another great challenge is theadoption of the new REACH chemicallegislation, which comes into effect in2007. It will burden the manufacturers,importers and distributors of chemicalsand a number of manufactur ingbranches. The next development of theCzech chemical industry will no doubt beinfluenced by the reorganisation andrestructur ing of the UNIPETROLpetrochemical holding, which accountsfor more than 50 % of the total revenueof this branch in the CR.

On the whole, however, the immediateprospects of the Czech and Europeanchemical industry can be viewedoptimistically. This is confirmed by theprognosis of the European ChemicalIndustry Council (CEFIC) published mid-2006, which expects production in theEU25 to grow by 2.6 % in 2006 year-on-year and the growth rate to slow to 2.2 % in 2007. The expectations for theCzech chemical industry in the nearfuture are similar, although the growthof revenue in 2006 and 2007 is not likely

Main indicators in the period 2000–2005million EUR/person 2000 2002 2004 2005* 05/04 (in %)Revenues from sale – own production (const. prices) 3367 3938 4498 5088 113.1Number of persons employed 44 988 44 586 41420 41 961 101.3Exports (current prices, CPA) 2079 2197 3009 3655 121.5Imports (current prices, CPA) 3688 4494 5717 6418 112.3Labour productivity based on book added value (const. prices) in thous. EUR per employee 20.2 24.5 28.0 29.9 106.8

* estimateCPA – Classification of Products by ActivitySource: Czech Statistical Office, calculation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

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to reach the 2004 and 2005 recordlevels. The Czech Republic’s joining theEU in the chemical industry hasfacilitated this country’s access not onlyto the EU market, but also to markets inother territories. This has been reflectedin the exchange of trade, easier access totop technologies and know-how and in

the results of science and research.Furthermore, it has opened up newpossibilities for the involvement of theCzech Republic in international researchprojects of the EU.

On the other hand, however, theenlargement of the EU by ten newmember states has led to keener

competition, in the face of which onlythose business organisations that offerinnovated products and meet therequirements of both sustainabledevelopment (IPPC, EMAS, ResponsibleCare, etc.) and the new REACH chemicallegislation are able to succeed.

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The Impact of REACH on Czech ChemicalIndustry and Trade

Vladimír Janeček, Association of Chemical Industry of the CR, e-mail: vladimir.janecek@schp.cz, www.schp.cz

The principal time indications in the DraftREACH Regulation of the EuropeanParliament and Council, a new regulation ofthe European Communities for chemicals,foresee its approval by the end of 2006 andits coming into effect as of 1 April 2007.The document will replace several dozencurrent legal documents of the EU thatgovern the handling of chemicals. Theprinciples of the new legislation includea unification of regulation, the applicationof the precautionary principle to govern thehandling of chemicals, and the shifting ofthe cost burden to enterprises. Regulation inthe European Union will be carried out fromone centre - the newly establishedEuropean Chemicals Agency.

The White Paper and REACHIn February 2001, the Commission openedthe White Paper Strategy for a FutureChemicals Policy for public discussion. Thesubmitted set of principles embodiesa proposal for a strategy for a futurechemicals policy that is acceptable to allchief European interest groups. Its principalaim is to ensure the protection of publichealth and the environment (including theminimisation of the use of animals fortesting), the competitiveness of industry andto uphold international commitments laiddown by the WTO. In other words, its aim isto ensure a sustainable development of thechemical industry. Five and a half years ofgradual development of the appearance of

the "Proposal for a Regulation of theEuropean Parliament and Councilconcerning the Registration, Evaluation,Authorisation, and Restriction ofChemicals" (REACH) have since passed.

REACH and IndustryOne of the chief ideas of REACH is theunification of requirements that determinerules for the manufacture, marketing, anduse of chemicals, chemical substances inpreparations, and chemical substances inproducts.

The Draft REACH Regulation not onlyaffects the chemical industry, but impactsother sectors that use chemicals, such as theautomobile, footwear, and textile industries,electrical engineering, the pulp and paperindustry, etc. Although the majority of thenew, important obligations ensuing fromthis draft relate to manufacturers, importersand distributors, certain duties also apply tosellers.

Activities of the Association of Chemical IndustryThe Association of Chemical Industry of theCzech Republic (SCHP CR) co-ordinated itsstance with Czech members of theEuropean Parliament, with the VCI (GermanAssociation of Chemical Industry) and withthe chemical associations of certain CentralEuropean countries – members of theVISEGRAD group (Poland, Slovakia,Hungary, Slovenia, CR). The SCHP CR

contributed to the adoption of newEuropean legislation by promoting theinclusion of the "one substance, oneregistration" proposal. The arguments,which helped push through the interests ofits members, included results of analyticalstudies of the expected impacts of theforthcoming implementation of REACH onthe industry of the Czech Republic – thechemical, pulp and paper, automobile andtextile industries. The SCHP CR partook inthese studies after it was entrusted with thistask by the Czech Ministry of Industry andTrade, the Ministry of the Environment, theMinistry of Labour and Social Affairs and bythe The Institute for ProspectiveTechnological Studies in Sevilla (IPTS/JRC –part of the European Commission). Thefindings of these studies reveal the mostvulnerable areas of the chemical industry interms of REACH implementation: thegreatest impact would be felt bymanufacturers of special chemicals andsmall and medium-sized enterprises. Forthese companies, but not only for them,SCHP CR is preparing a special service thatwill use standard information on REACH toprovide REACH information (REACHHelpDesk) and above-standard businessservices (REACH CENTRUM CZ) for theimplementation of REACH.

Further information on REACH is availableat www.schp.cz, see heading "BusinessEnvironment in the CR".

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Czech Technology Platform for SustainableChemistry

Vladimír Janeček, Association of Chemical Industry of the Czech Republic, e-mail: vladimir.janecek@schp.cz, www.schp.cz

The Czech Technology Platform forSustainable Chemistry (CTP SusChem) wasestablished on the initiative of the

Association of Chemical Industry of the CRat the end of 2005 as the first ever Czechtechnology platform. Its mission is to

support activities and initiatives aimed atpromoting chemistry and the chemicalindustry and all related scientific, research,

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technology and innovation activities in theCzech Republic.

Chief Aims of CTP SusChem The chief aim of CTP SusChem is to raisethe competitiveness of the Czechchemical industry, to build a bridgebetween science, research and industry inthe area of chemistry, to promoteinnovation activities as well as scientificand technical development in thechemical industry, and to help the CzechRepublic become involved in the coreactivities of the European TechnologyPlatform for Sustainable Chemistry(ETPSusChem).

Key Ways of Engaging the CzechRepublic in the EuropeanTechnology PlatformKeys ways of engaging the CR in theEuropean Technology Platform includedrawing up a vision of the sector’sdevelopment, preparing a strategic researchprogramme, initiating and carrying outscientific and technical research, laying downa strategy for the development of modernchemical technologies and co-operation inoutlining policy and legal regulations for thestimulation of innovation activities.

Membership of CTP SusChemIn October 2006, CTP SusChem had twenty

members, all of them organisations dealingin production, basic and applied researchfor example: AGROFERT Holding a.s.(www.agrofert.cz), BorsodChem MCHZs.r.o. (www.bc-mchz.cz), České technolog-ické centrum pro anorganické pigmenty a.s.(Czech Technological Centre for InorganicPigments Co. Ltd) (www.ctcap.cz), Ekoras.r.o.(www.ekora.cz), Hexion SpecialityChemicals a.s. (http://www.hexionchem.com), Linde Gas a.s. (www.linde-gas.cz),Polymer Institute Brno s.r.o. (www.polymer.cz), Faculty of Chemical Technologyof the University of Pardubice(www.upce.cz), Faculty of Science ofMasaryk University (www.muni.cz). ■

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The Czech Republic, a Foundation for Top Biotechnological Research

Jiří Sochor, CzechInvest, e-mail: jiri.sochor@czechinvest.org, www.czechinvest.org

Pharmacy, special chemistry, and relateddisciplines are among the most forward-looking branches in the long-termoutlook. Investment in these disciplines istherefore growing, and the CzechRepublic is no exception. Moreover, theCR can boast a rich history of remarkableachievements: polarography, contactlenses, and other breakthrough inventionshave their roots in the Czech Republic.

One of the most promising areas ofresearch and development are bio-technologies. At the end of 2005, therewere 63 biotechnological companies andmore than other 220 entities dealing withbiotechnological research in the CzechRepublic.

Close Links with UniversitiesEach year, Czech universities turn outapproximately 7 500 fresh mastergraduates with degrees relating to lifesciences in one way or another.Universities in the CR are not concentratedonly in and around the capital city, but are scattered all throughout thecountry’s regions. Recently, the Academyof Sciences of the CR announced theirplan to open a completely new bio-technological centre. It is to be based inthe Central Bohemian Region not far fromPrague, and is to focus on nano-technologies, pharmacology, the use ofbiomaterials, and therapy with the help ofstem cells and drug testing. The Academyestimates, that the construction of thecentre and the provision of top-standardequipment will cost CZK 2 billion. Theplan envisages that as a follow-up to theBiotechnological Centre, a number ofspin-off companies will be established,which will transfer the results of theresearch directly into practice.

Incubators, Clusters, InnovationRecently, the first Czech biotechnologicalcluster, Water Treatment Alliance, cameinto being in Brno. The companies withinthe alliance co-operate in marketing,export, and innovation efforts, and worktogether with two universities, which are

also part of the cluster. Thebiotechnological centre further co-operates with the South Bohemian clusterCEVTECH, which deals withenvironmental technologies.

A new incubator of biotechnologicalcompanies will soon appear in SouthMoravia. It is intended to help newbusinesses put new ideas on the market. Itwill be located within the premises ofMasaryk Universityin Brno and willoffer its services toapproximately 27biotechnologicalcompanies. "Thanksto its location onthe campus, weshall be able to takeadvantage of thepossibility of usingthe facilities of top-standard labora-tories in the com-pound. Companieswill thus be able toco-operate, forinstance, with the University Hospital,where clinical evaluations of medicinescan take place," says Jiří Hudeček,Director of the South BohemianInnovation Centre, which sharesresponsibility for the project together withMasaryk University.

Another project to be launched in Brno isthe ICRC Brno International ClinicalResearch Centre, which is to becomea unique European clinical and researcheducational facility specialising in cardio-and neuro-vascular diseases, internaldiseases, neurology, and partly inoncology. The project will be carried outunder the auspices of the prestigiousAmerican Mayo clinic.

"We are trying to give maximum supportto investment in research anddevelopment, as these are long-termprojects that create job opportunities foruniversity trained researchers and they willraise the Czech Republic to a higherlevel," Tomáš Hruda, Managing Director

of CzechInvest Agency, explains. "Quiterecently CzechInvest helped prepare anInternet portal, www.gate2biotech.cz,devoted to biotechnologies in the CR."

The latest foreign investment inmedicine in the Czech Republic,announced at the end of November, willbe that of Synthon, which will restructureits chemical plant in Blansko near Brnointo a purely pharmaceutical works and

will begin manufacturing medicines."Synthon will transfer its production fromother European countries to the CzechRepublic and in addition, it will enrich itstechnology with the results of the work ofits two research centres, which have beenoperating in the Czech Republic for sometime now," Patrik Reichl, Director of theregional branch of the Czech Investmentand Business Development Agency inBrno, adds.

"Thanks to international biotechnologyprojects, the Czech Republic is becominginvolved in important projects of appliedresearch. Work on such projects is a goodreference for the entry of global investorsoperating in the bio-industry and inpharmacy," Tomáš Hruda concludes,adding that in their search for Czechpartners investors do not limit themselvesto particular regions, but instead look forpartners in the whole of the CzechRepublic.

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Education of Young Pharmacists and Researchersin the Czech Republic

Milan Pour, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, e-mail: pour@faf.cuni.cz, www.faf.cuni.cz

The Hradec Králové Faculty of Pharmacy,Charles University, founded in 1969, isone of the youngest of the 17 faculties ofPrague’s Charles University. The school is developing dynamically. At present,there are approximately 1000 studentsenrolled in the traditional pharmacycourse completed by a Master’s Degree. In the newly established course formedical bioanalysts completed bya Bachelor’s Degree (with the possibility ofcontinuing studies in a follow-up coursefor a Master’s Degree) the number of students is approximately 250.Pharmacists are educated as all-roundspecialists in pharmaceuticals andundergo complex preparation founded ona practical connection between chemistryand biology. A well-balanced combinationof these two specialisations, together withdisciplines that focus on practical skills inpharmacy and on sensitivity towards theneeds of patients, enables the graduatesto communicate with chemists, biologists,physicians, technologists of pharma-ceutical f irms, and various otherspecialists. Hence, the graduates haveample opportunities of assertingthemselves in practical life, and eventhough most of them still prefer to workin pharmacies, an increasing number ofthem accept positions in thepharmaceutical industry or in chemical orbiological research. The branch formedical bioanalysts educates specialistsfor work in microbiological, haema-tological, immunological, and otherlaboratories, which have becomea standard part of many healthcareestablishments. Studies at the faculty arefully compatible with education in theEuropean Union and are also accredited inthe English language.

Educating Research SpecialistsIn the context of the ongoing boom inchemical and biological disciplines in thethird millennium, the faculty providesunique conditions for the development ofscience and learning to a large number ofstudents, especial ly in the study

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programmes leading to a PhD. degree, theprincipal aim of which is to educatespecialists for research in differentpharmaceutical disciplines. Attentionfocuses on new pharmaceuticals, mainlysmall molecules of organic origin, whichhave the capacity of neutralising or atleast correcting pathological processes inthe human organism. A typical feature ofthe faculty is its multidisciplinary character– groups here deal with all aspects ofpharmacy, from seeking out new activesubstances to their distribution in the formof preparations with everything going onunder one roof. Study programmes atbotanical departments (Department of

Pharmaceutical Botany and Department ofPharmacognosy) concentrate on theresearch of natural substances, both onthe isolation of new substances (e.g.flavonoids with antitoxic effects) and thepossibi l ity of producing selectedsubstances from plant cultures. Teamsdealing with the synthesis of potentialdrugs, such as tuberculocidal, fungicidaland cytotoxic substances, etc., work in thechemical departments, namely theDepartment of Inorganic and OrganicChemistry and the Division of DrugSynthesis of the Department ofPharmaceutical Chemistry. The formeralso houses a part of the Centre For New

Students of pharmaceutical faculties participate actively in researchPh

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Antivirals and Cytostatics led by ProfessorAntonín Holý from the Academy ofSciences of the Czech Republic anda group working on the development ofsubstances that enable the transdermalpenetration of drugs.

Comprehensive research of modernforms of drugs and their administration topatients takes place at the Department ofPharmaceutical Technology. Thetransformation of medicines in theorganism is examined by students andacademics of the Department ofBiochemical Sciences (transformation ofsubstances in the organism), theDepartment of Biological and MedicalSciences and the Department ofPharmacology and Toxicology (e.g.transfer of medicines through theplacenta, molecular, and biological aspectsof the effects of medicines, etc.). Animportant segment of pharmacy studies isthe analysis of substances, carried out atthe Drug Analysis Division of theDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

and the Department of AnalyticalChemistry. Last but not least, there is theDepartment of Social and ClinicalPharmacy, where PhD. students andemployees carry out an attractive study ofdrug interactions in addition to dealingwith practical aspects of pharmaceuticalservices. The results of their work arepublished in foreign magazines with animpact factor and the high standard oftheir work gains generous financialsupport, mainly from grant agencies, but also from pharmaceutical companies.The great improvement of the faculty’stechnical facilities in the past few years islargely attributable to this support.

Co-operation with Czech andForeign InstitutionsAs part of its research efforts, the facultycooperates regularly with Czech andforeign entities. In the academic area,these include universities in the EU (e.g. inGreat Britain, Portugal, Spain, andGermany), in the former Soviet Union, and

the USA. The faculty’s traditional partneramong companies is Zentiva, a Czechcompany, as well as smaller manufacturersin the region (Herbacos-Bofarma).

Appreciation of Research WorkAppreciation of the good quality ofresearch work carried out by thefaculty’s employees and students takes theform of the grants mentioned above, aswell as a number of specific prizes, whichemployees and students win each year. Inaddition to the usual prizes awarded byassociations and student foundations(Hlávka Foundation, etc.), they also receiveawards at international studentconferences. Examples of success includethe Gold Medal awarded at the Eureka1997 world review of inventions inBrussels for the "New transdermalpenetration enhancer" and the recentvictory of one of the faculty’s students atthe world congress of industrial pharmacyin Brazil, where she won the bestpresentation award. ■

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Leader on the Pharmaceutical Market

Zentiva is a modern pharmaceutical company, which specialisesin the development, manufacture, and sale of modern brandedgenerics. Zentiva is the leading company in the Czech,Romanian, and Slovak markets and as a result of this and itsrapid growth in Poland and Russia it is now one of the mainsuppliers of pharmaceuticals in Central and Eastern Europe.Recently Zentiva announced that its business is doing well withrevenues in 2006 expected to increase by approximately 20 %.

In 2006 Zentiva won the Czech Employer of the Year awardand retained its position as the third most admired firm in theCzech Republic. In order to understand the secret of thecompany’s success, we interviewed Zentiva’s Managing Director,Jiří Michal.

What, in your opinion, was the main reason whyyou won the 2006 Employer of the Year Award?Perhaps it was the fact that Zentiva is a fast growing successfulcompany which takes very good care of its employees. Theformer makes the firm attractive to job seekers, while the latterpoint ensures that our employees are happy to be working forthe company. In 2006, more than ten thousand people appliedto work at our company – clear proof of the attractiveness ofZentiva as an employer. Unfortunately we were only ina position to take on one hundred new employees.

What is the driver of your success?Zentiva is unique in that its business is focused on the primarycare market. This focus means that it can communicate directlywith general practitioners, doctors who are the closest topatients on a day-to-day basis. We offer them good drugs andmedicines for their patients. Until recently, drugs and medicineswere covered by patents and supplied exclusively by the originalmanufacturer. As market laws changed, we have been able tointroduce modern branded equivalents of these drugs, so calledgenerics, at substantially lower prices. As a result, for the priceof medication, previously used to treat one patient, we can nowtreat up to ten patients.

Zentiva operates in markets of the EU as well asthose of East Europe. It enjoys leading marketpositions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, andRomania and is growing rapidly in Poland, Russia,and the Baltic States. Are you planning to expandfurther?The sale of pharmaceutical products is subject to very strictapproval and regulatory procedures. This means that theprocess of entering a new market is not easy, just a matter ofone or two days. Even the launch of a new product on a marketwhere we are already established is not easy. That is why wemust choose the new target markets very carefully and weighup which of Zentiva’s products are most suitable for thatparticular country. One factor which has been a greatadvantage recently in supporting our geographic expansion isthat the Czech Republic is now a member of the EuropeanUnion. This gives us access to its mutual recognition procedurefor new drug registrations, which simplifies drug approvals inthe EU member states.

Which drugs does Zentiva manufacture? And whichcountry imports the largest amount?Zentiva’s three manufacturing plants are located in the CzechRepublic, Romania, and Slovakia. Altogether they manufacturenearly three hundred different products, some of them inseveral forms, referred to as dosage forms. They differ fromeach other for instance in the way they are administered topatients or in the content of the active component. Our mostsuccessful products include drugs for reducing high bloodpressure and medicines for the reduction of certain lipids (fats),particularly cholesterol. Other important product categories forZentiva include pain killers, drugs for the treatment of theenlargement of the prostate gland in men and medicines whichreduce gastric acid in order to treat ulcers. The territorialdistribution of Zentiva’s sales is perhaps best illustrated by theshare of different areas in our overall revenues. In the first halfof 2006, 38 % of our revenue came from the Czech Republic,18 % from Romania, and 14 % from each of Slovakia andPoland.

Research and development is crucial to thedevelopment of the new drugs needed to supportthe pharmaceutical industry’s growth. Whatresearch and development is Zentiva engaged in?Zentiva is not a company that develops completely newmolecules capable of treating previously incurable diseases ordisorders. This is an immensely costly and lengthy process andthis task is the focus of leading global pharmaceuticalcompanies often referred to as originator firms. In contrastZentiva’s research focuses on the development of moleculesthat already exist on the market and whose patent protection isexpected to expire in the foreseeable future. In addition, we areinvestigating new ways of delivering these molecules into thebody. For example using these drug delivery techniques it ispossible for the patient to take a drug just once a day insteadof, let us say, every eight hours, whilst ensuring that thenecessary quantity of the active part of the drug substance ispresent in the body at all times. Another promising researchdirection for Zentiva includes a new method of drugadministration, which will make it possible to deliver the activedrug substances to the exact location in the body where it isintended they exert their positive effect. This so called targetingcould be very important for the treatment of cancer usingchemotherapy, as it will restrict the drug’s unfavourable effecton other tissues in the body and as a result could significantlyreduce side-effects. We are currently co-operating closely withexperts from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic todevelop these targeted cytostatic drugs. However, at presentthis research is in a phase where this novel approach is beingtested on tumour cells in the laboratory, so its use to treatpatients with cancer in a clinical setting is still very far off.

Naďa Vávrová

Walmark Aspires to Become Europe’s LargestDietary Supplement Manufacturer

Walmark, originally a family business, was established in 1990.In 1991 it began its business activities and soon after thatlaunched its own production of non-alcoholic beverages. Since1992 it also manufactures pharmaceutical and para-pharmaceutical preparatives. Today it is a joint stock companyfully focused on the manufacture of dietary supplements andpharmaceuticals. We discussed Walmark’s exports and furtherdevelopment as well as what it means to be a "private Czechpharmaceutical firm" today with the company’s ManagingDirector, Mr Tomáš Macura.

You have managed to turn a small family businessinto a renowned pharmaceutical brand. What isthe company’s strategy and what, in your opinion,makes Walmark exceptional?Walmark is testimony to the fact that even under local Czechconditions a firm can develop and expand successfully in thedemanding branch of pharmaceutical production practicallyfrom scratch, with minimum initial capital and without foreignknow-how. Admittedly, it was to our advantage that at the timewe launched the production of dietary supplements, the Czechmarket was still unsaturated and we did in fact contributesignificantly to its development. We were not afraid to gobeyond the territory of the Czech Republic and expand toforeign markets. We knew that success was unlikely to come inthe absence of a good business plan, readiness to work hard, anexcellent team of collaborators, without firm ethical principles,and of course without a great deal of luck.

What share of your revenues is accounted for byexports? Which countries do you export to?Today, the company manages its exports via its branches ineight European countries (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland,Romania, Hungary, the Ukraine, Lithuania, and Bulgaria) andsells its products to more than twenty other countriesworldwide via local distributors. Thanks to the intensification offoreign trade activities in 2005, revenues accomplished thatyear on foreign markets exceeded for the first time thosegenerated in the Czech Republic. Their share in thecompany’s consolidated turnover for 2005 amounted to 56 %.We are doing very well in Estonia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, andSerbia, and are gradually improving co-operation andstrengthening our position on markets in Latvia, countries ofthe former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia andHerzegovina), in Cyprus and Macedonia. We have alsomanaged to penetrate the market in Greece and France.

Could you list your most important exportterritories? Which products are selling best onforeign markets?WALMARK is the leader on the dietary supplements market inthe Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria. In Polandwe rank in second place for the time being, in Hungary we rankthird and fifth in Lithuania. The focus of our interest is Central

and East Europe, however our export department is alsosearching for opportunities on markets beyond Europe. In orderto succeed on a foreign market, it is necessary to carefullyweigh up the specifics of that particular market, to determinethe best marketing strategy and to choose those productswhich are most suited to that market. Our product rangecomprises 200 items; however, each country is different andrequires something else. In general, our brand products are themost successful from among our products. The most popular ofthem are Arthrostop Plus, GinkoPrim, Martians, Prostenal,Calcium-Magnesium-Zinc and Urinal.

Recently you became the majority owner ofAminostar, a manufacturer of dietary supplementsand nutrition for sportsmen. What does this stepmean for Walmark?We hope the acquisition of Aminostar will bring above all anexpansion of our operations by another segment of the market.Nutrition for sportsmen provides us with an opportunity tocombine certain operations with our dietary supplements andpharmaceutical production facilities, for instance in terms ofdevelopment, manufacture, sales, and marketing. It is a segmentwith great potential for growth not only in the Czech Republic,but also in other countries. For the introduction of Aminostaron new foreign markets we shall employ the network of ourforeign branches and the activities of our export department.

Could you give an indication of what you have instore for 2007?As far as dietary supplements are concerned, we shall launch atleast five completely new preparatives on the market in 2007.We also plan to add prescription drugs to our current range ofover-the-counter medicinal drugs. In the area of nutrition forsportsmen these will include products such as new protein andenergy drinks intended for consumers from among cyclists.

Naďa Vávrová

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Improving the Quality of Life

Barbora Vraná, PLIVA-Lachema a.s., e-mail: vrana@lachema.cz, www.lachema.cz

PLIVA-Lachema a.s. is a leading Czechpharmaceuticals manufacturer.

The company’s history dates back tothe 1950s, when Lachema, NationalCorporation, as it was then known,began to manufacture laboratory andspecialty chemicals. In the 1960s, thecompany began to focus increasingly onthe health service. In the 1980s, itsproduction programme was expanded toinclude its first generic anti-tumourpreparation, the cisplatinum injection,shortly followed by other cytostatics andantidotes for the treatment of cancer.

At that time, Lachema was sti l la company with merely a local focus, andits main markets in Central and EasternEurope. In the 1990s it was clear that ifthe company wanted to modernise andbecome part of the major European andworld markets, it needed to find a majorstrategic partner. In 1999, PLIVA d.d. ofCroatia became a majority shareholder inthe company. Lachema became part ofthe PLIVA Group and since 2000 it hasbeen operating under its new tradename, PLIVA-Lachema a.s. In October2006, PLIVA d.d. merged with BarrPharmaceuticals, Inc. to create theworld's third largest genericspharmaceutical company. As a memberof the Barr global group, PLIVA and itssubsidiaries, including PLIVA-Lachema,benefit from the numerous opportunitiesand advantages that stem from beingpart of a leading global genericscompany.

Core Production ProgrammePLIVA-Lachema’s core business activitiescentre on the development andproduction of generic drugs, particularlycytostatics, which suppress the growthand multiplication of cells. The companyalso manufactures cardiovascular drugsand ant iv i rot ics for herpes v i rusinfections. The company employs themost advanced technologies and state ofthe art facilities in the manufacturingprocess.

Shortly after its acquisition of Lachema,PLIVA d.d. began to develop a fast anddynamic business, its main goal theconstruction of a centre of excellence for

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oncology products with the aim offocusing on operation excellence in thearea of generic products. As the Centraland East European markets were alreadylong-establ ished markets, PL IVA-Lachema began to concentrate onexpanding its business activities viaPLIVA’s sales and distribution channels toWest Europe and the US. Since 2005,the company has been using twoapproaches in its efforts to penetrateWest European markets. One approachis the sale of products directly tocustomers and the other the sale oflicences to trading partners.

In 2004, PLIVA-Lachema was approvedby the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) as a company suitable for theproduction of active pharmaceuticalingredients and sterile dosage forms forthe American market. Subsequentstrong marketing and developmentstrategies enabled the company tolaunch its product Carboplatin on the USmarket. Carboplatin interferes with thegrowth of cancer cells and is mainly usedto treat cancer of the genital organs,head, neck, lungs, and bladder.A number of other products are

currently undergoing the registrationprocess with US regulatory authorities. In2006, the company successful lylaunched Carboplatin in Japan througha local partner.

Research and Development in PLIVAIn the past few years the company hasbeen investing in all its businessactivities, research and development,however, heads the list of its toppriorities. The main focus is on thedevelopment of cytostatic preparations.The company operates an in-houseresearch and development base and itsown development and manufacturingfacilities in Brno. PLIVA d.d. chose PLIVA-Lachema as one of its three majorcentres of excellence that specialise incytostatics. Another area of interest isthe development of high-efficiencypreparations.

To ensure the production of its ownpharmaceuticals, PLIVA-Lachema is alsoengaged in the development of activepharmaceut ica l ingredients andintermediates, particularly cytostatics.

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One of the pharmaceuticals manufacturing processes

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Lovochemie Boosts Czech AgricultureIrena Vodičková, Lovochemie, a.s., e-mail: irena.vodickova@lovochemie.cz, www.lovochemie.cz

Lovochemie, a.s . , i s the largestmanufacturer of industrial fertilisers, inthe CR. Its production programme hasgreatly contributed to the developmentof Czech agriculture.

The production of fertilisers dates backto 1904, when Adolf Schram builta sulphuric acid and superphosphatemanufacturing plant on the outskirts ofLovosice. After theSecond World War, a newsulphuric acid productionfaci l ity was built anda few years later theconstruction of a newnitric acid and calciumnitrate block wascompleted. This gave riseto a chemical complex,very large for its time,cal led the Art i f ic ia lFert i l i ser Works. I tsmerger with the CzechArtificial Silk Factory gaverise to the Lovosice NorthBohemian ChemicalWorks (SCHZ), establishedin 1958. Dur ing i tsexistence, the originalworks were expanded toinclude five nitric acidblocks, a calcium nitrateplant, a combinedfertiliser plant, a modernsulphur ic ac id unit ,a superphosphate line anda number of smal lerfacilities. Its boiler room,waterworks, and factorysiding were modernised.The Lovochemie jointstock company came intobeing in 1993.

Production ProgrammeToday, Lovochemie’s core programmeinvolves the manufacture and sale ofnitric and combined fertilizers in bothsolid and liquid form. These fertilisersare based on ammonium nitrate,calcium nitrate, multi-component NPCand NP fertilisers, granulated mixedfert i l i sers , granulated ammoniumsulphate, Cerer i t , Lovogreen andcarboxymethyl cellulose.

Fertilisers for ExportA large part of Lovochemie's productionoutput is intended for export, mainly todemanding West European markets. Thequality of its products has opened theway to EU states for Lovochemie’sfertilisers, although the firm has also gota foothold on markets in Latin Americaand Asia. Each year, the company

exports approximately one-half of itstotal output.

Investment in ProductionLovochemie invests large sums in newtechnologies. For example in 2003 itbuilt a new nitric acid facility, in 2005 itreconstructed its ammonia unit and in2006 modernised its waste watertreatment plant. The company isworking intensively on projects to reducethe impact of its production on the

environment and to further improve thesafety of its technologies. Since 1990,new environmental structures have costthe company more than EUR 47 million,and further investment projects are inthe pipeline.

Research and DevelopmentThe company co-operates on research

and development with the InorganicChemistry Research Institute in Ústí nadLabem. This form of co-operation hasresulted in the development of newfertiliser types, such as Lovogreen, a newtype of lawn fertiliser, granulatedammonium sulphate, and in the testingof new raw mater ia ls for themanufacture of fertilisers (e.g. surfacefinishing agents). Another benefit of thisco-operation is the further improvementof existing technologies. ■

Drawing off ammonia from cisterns

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Specialist in the Manufacture of ActivePharmaceutical Ingredients

FARMAK is an independent Czechmanufacturer of active pharmaceuticalingredients (APIs), intermediates, andchemical specialities. Its manufacturingequipment is subject to regular inspectionby the State Institute for Drug Controland the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), and it meets the requirements ofcurrent Good Manufacturing Practice.Favourable customer audits of thecompany’s qual ity system areinstrumental in helping it to retain itsexisting clients and win new ones.

The company provides a wide range ofservices, from laboratory research andpilot plant production to commercialproduction processes. FARMAK productsare accompanied by documentationrequired by the European Drug MasterFile (EDMF), the United States DrugMaster File (USDMF), and Certificates of Suitabi l i ty of the EuropeanPharmacopeaia (CEP), prepared inaccordance with current internationaldirectives.

Production and DevelopmentThe company’s management attachesgreat importance to innovation activities.New products are sophist icatedcompounds prepared by multi-stepsyntheses that require special know-how,mainly in the area of heterocyclicchemistry (alfuzosin, brimonidine,moxonidine, t izanidine, zolpidem,quetiapine, etc.). The company’s researchand development team is currentlyworking on more than ten new projects.In-house company research anddevelopment of processes for themanufacture of generic substances isa valuable competitive advantage forFARMAK.

An important role in the companyprogramme is also played by custommanufacturing and custom development,an area where the company has manyyears’ experience. Its highly eruditeresearch team works closely withuniversities and it is able to meet the mostdemanding requirements of customers. In

2007, FARMAK launched customerproduction of disinfectants for use in thehealth service and communal hygiene forEcolab.

Investment in ProductionTechnologyFARMAK invests regularly in itsproduction equipment. In 2004 it puta new QC and laboratory centre intooperation, in addition to a new state-of-art manufacturing unit. For 2007 theconstruction of a kilolab unit is foreseen.Such investment makes it possible forFARMAK to introduce moderntechnological processes, which,moreover, have a favourable effect on theworking milieu and the environment.

The company pays considerableattention to environmental and safetyissues – it is a holder of the RESPONSIBLECARE certificate, awarded in the chemicalindustry.

Pharmaceutical Substances for ExportFARMAK focuses strongly on export,which accounts for nearly 90 % ofcompany turnover. FARMAK maintainstrade contacts in over 35 countries. Itsmost important export territories includethe USA, EU states, and several Asiancountries. Its most demanded activepharmaceutical ingredients include:ALFUZOSIN HYDROCHLORIDE,BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE, MONONIDINE,QUETIAPINE HEMIFUMARATE,TIZANIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE,ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE, ZOPICLONE, andESZOPICLONE. The API group accounts for 87 % ofcompany revenue and is one of FARMAK’stradit ional key product groups.Intermediates and chemical specialities,which form another product group, areintended as raw materials mainly for themanufacture of pharmaceuticalsubstances.

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Jan Baťka, FARMAK, a.s., e-mail: batka@farmak.cz, www.farmak.cz

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Czech Chemical Research in the Course of History

The performance of the Czech chemicalindustry is not high and ranks the CzechRepubl ic , together with Austr ia,Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia,Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia,Malta, and Cyprus among countrieswhose share in the turnover of EU statesis equal to less than 1% of theperformance of EU states.

Co-operat ion among sc ient istsincreas ingly displays s igns ofinternational collaboration, both on theEuropean and global scale. Yet, thecontribution of Czech scientists to theresults of world chemical science isclearly identifiable, especially in areassuch as chemical processes in the humanbody, nature and in industrially appliedprocesses. Outstanding chemists aregenerally well known in the CzechRepublic and their achievements add topeople’s better understanding of theimportance of chemistry.

Outstanding Personalities in Czech Chemical Research in the Past, the Nobel PrizeThe first Czech to be awarded the NobelPrize for Chemistry (1959) was thephysical chemist Jaroslav Heyrovský, whowas awarded the prize for his inventionand appl icat ion of polarography.Academician Heyrovský was the founderof the Polarography Institute of theCzechoslovak Academy of Sciences(ČSAV) and co-founder of the Collectionof Czechoslovak Chemical Communicat-ions Journal.

Synthetic polyamide fibres (PA 6) –silon, hydrogel, and flexible contactlenses, these are amongst the best-known results of the research activitiesof academician Otto Wichter le,a macromolecular chemist and one ofthe most significant Czech scientists andinventors. The Czech Chemical Societyestablished the Otto Wichterle Prize toaward foreign researchers in chemicalbranches in appreciation of theircontr ibut ion to advancing Czechscience.

Adamantan is a compound witha fascinating structure and extraordinaryproperties. It was discovered in 1932 inthe laboratories of the University ofChemical Technology Engineer ing(VŠCHTI) in Prague, the predecessor oftoday’s Institute of Chemical Technology,by professor Stanislav Landa and it wasfirst synthetised by professor VladoPrelog, graduate of VŠCHTI and holderof the Nobel Prize for Chemistryawarded in 1975. Today, adamantanchemistry products are part of theproduct range offered by Lachema, s.r.o.Brno.

Personalities of Current ChemicalResearchOne of the greatest Czech chemists oftoday is professor Antonín Holý. Hisgreatest achievements include thediscovery of active substances thatcombat the HIV virus, which leads toAIDS, and the hepatitis virus type B. The development of these act ivepreparations required a chemical analysisof tens of thousands of precursors anda selection of those of them that had therequired effect for combating theviruses. Gi lead of Cal i fornia isa manufacturer of medicaments basedon Holý’s chemicals, namely the productVistide, which counteracts viruses thatcause, for instance, gastric ulcers andretina inflammation, Viread, which haltsthe multiplication of the HIV virus, andHepsera, which counteracts serumhepatitis type B. Atripla is a drug thatcombines Viread with another twopreparations that combat AIDS.

Josef Michl is a member of theAmerican National Academy of Sciencesand currently the most frequently citedscientist of Czech origin. In the words ofhis teacher, Rudolf Zahradník, he isa "five-star general leading a globalarmy of chemists". Professor Josef Michlteaches at the Colorado University inBoulder and at academic organicchemistry and biochemistry and physicalchemistry institutes in Prague. He is one

of the co-founders of a relatively newscientif ic branch cal led molecularelectronics (a part of applied physics,which focuses on the use of moleculesas electronic components, both passive –e.g. resistors, and/or active – e.g.transistors).

A new generation of anti-tumourmedicaments - polymer medicamentswith cytostatic and immunomodulationeffects developed by professor BlankaŘíhová, director of the MicrobiologicalInstitute of the Academy of Sciences ofthe CR, and by professor Karel Ulbrich,director of the MacromolecularChemistry Institute of the Academy ofSciences of the CR, and their teams,have a number of advantages overconvent ional chemotherapy. Thesubstance directly penetrates tumourcells, thereby strongly reducing theundesirable toxic effect on healthy tissueand organs. Moreover, it can be used inpatients resistant to conventionalchemotherapy, which they haveundergone.

Czech Scientists Influence the Performance of the ChemicalIndustryIn addition to these excellent results inthe area of basic research, thanks toCzech scientists, the chemical industry inthe Czech Republic is also receivingimpulses in the form of new "made tomeasure" technologies, which meet therequirements of specific investors. Theimplementat ion of these newtechnologies has a positive effect on theperformance of the entire chemicalindustry sector.

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Vladimír Janeček, Association of the Chemical Industry of the CR, e-mail: vladimir.janecek@schp.cz, www.schp.cz

Important Manufacturing Processes from the Laboratory of a Czech Chemist

Josef Pašek, a scientist, chemical technologist, and winner ofthe prestigious Czech Brain award, is the author of a number ofimportant patents in applied research and technologicalinnovation. The list of his research activities is immense. Therecan be no doubt, however, that his greatest achievement is thetechnology of aniline and cyclohexylamine production. What isthe opinion of this significant Czech chemist on research anddevelopment, what kind of research has he partaken in recentlyand what is he working on at present?

What, in your opinion, is the quality of Czechchemical research?Basic research in chemistry at the Academy of Sciences and atuniversities is of a fairly high level, applied research on the otherhand is relatively poor. Czech chemical enterprises are notstrong enough to build their own extensive research bases.A single global chemical company is yet to become engaged inchemical production in the Czech Republic, perhaps with theexception of Continental, who deals in the manufacture of tyres.

Where do you find the means for financing yourresearch?Recently, the Ministry of Education increased its contribution touniversities, a step that is already having a tangible effect. Ourresearch group receives part of its funds from two grants of theMinistry of Industry and Trade (Tandem Programme). This,among other things, helps keep talented people at universities.Further means stem from contractual co-operation with bothCzech and foreign industrial enterprises.

How long did you work on the development of aniline? What process did your research have to undergo before your know-how could be soldto Japan by BC-MCHZ?I adhere to the following principle: a process needs to beperfected continuously and every new project should bringsome degree of improvement. We built our very first test unit inBC-MCHZ in 1975 based on the principle applied today. At thattime, the unit fully covered Czechoslovak aniline consumptionand served as a basis for the preparation of an anilinemanufacturing plant with a capacity of 65 kt/year, which wasput into operation in 1985.

Today, BC-MCHZ produces approximately 150 kt of anilinea year. Our process is energy-efficient and generates abouttwice as much steam as it itself consumes. We have graduallyreduced the unit consumption of the catalyst. The anilinemanufactured in our production process is of outstandingquality - the content of all organic impurities together amountsto approximately 0.005 %.

The know-how for aniline production is not "mine", it is theproperty of BC-MCHZ. A team made up of members of both theInstitute of Chemical Technology and BC-MCHZ participated inthe development of the process in the past, and they continueto do so today. I can merely be considered the chief author of

the know-how. Tosoh of Japan appears satisfied with ourprocess of aniline production, judging by its recent purchase ofanother licence from BC-MCHZ. Today, our process is used tomake about 10 % of world aniline output.

Which other companies do you co-operate with on development?I am the initiator of about 30 different processes, which havebeen realised in Czech, Slovak, and foreign industry. Our mostimportant partners have been BC-MCHZ Ostrava, Duslo Šaľa,Slovakia, Deza Valašské Meziříčí, and Chemopetrol Litvínov. Forabout 10 years I have cooperated with Taminco (Belgium) whereseveral chemical processes we realised. For several years I haveco-operated with Sulzer of Switzerland and Sulzprag, itsrepresentation in the CR. In the past three years, we haveparticipated in several smaller projects with CIBA, another Swissfirm, now Huntsman.

What is the basis of this co-operation?Each year we conclude a contract with every one of thesecompanies for a defined research programme. Such projectsencompass the complete development of the process as well asa survey of new possibilities.

Companies require specific results and I must say that makingmoney by co-operating with industry is by no means an easytask. I myself work as a consultant for BC-MCHZ, Taminco, andChemoprojekt.

Can you list any other significant processes thathave originated in your laboratory and tell us howthey are applied?The most extensive I think has been the development ofa process for the manufacture of antiozonants for Duslo Šaľa ofSlovakia. Work on this project involved several years’cooperation with the VÚCHT Chemical Technology Institute inBratislava. The process involves a continuous five-steps organicsynthesis with a capacity of more than 2 t/h. Duslo is continuingin the expansion of its antiozonant production and it is theworld’s second largest manufacturer of these substances today.

Another one of our recent projects involved the separation ofnaphthalene from pyrolysis oil and the preparation of technicaldocumentation for Sulzer, which in turn delivered the process toChemopetrol. In co-operation with Chemopetrol we preparedknow-how for the manufacture of technical dicyclopentadiennefrom pyrolysis petrol, and now we are looking for an investorfor this process. In 2004 we opened a newdimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) plant at Taminco. Thissubstance is primarily used to make tensides for shampoos. In2006, a hydrogenation station for refining distillation residuesin methylamine production was also put into operation atTaminco Leuna, Germany.

What are you working on at present?Most of our current activities centre on the production of

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amines, often of rather curious structure. Decades of work inthe area of amine synthesis have allowed us to gatherexperience, which we are now in turn able to offer. Anotherhobby of mine is rectification systems, used to separate

substances according to their different boiling points. I havedesigned some 100 rectification columns, approximately 70 ofwhich have been built.

Naďa Vávrová

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C Z E C H C H E M I C A L A N D P H A R M A C E U T I C A L I N D U S T R Y

New Opportunities for BiotechnologyMagda Sergejevová, Centre of Biological Technologies, e-mail: sergejevova@greentech.cz, www.greentech.cz

The Centre of Biological Technologieswas established at the Academic andUniversity Centre of Nové Hrady in 2004.The objective of the centre is to educateand train students in biotechnologies,new technological processes, and toraise the general level of education. Theresearch and education centre receivesconsiderable support from institutionsconcerned with education and sciencenot only in the Czech Republic, but alsoin neighbouring Austria. They include,for example, the Johannes-Kepler-Universität Linz and Kompetenzzentrumfür Holzverbundstoffe und HolzchemieLinz, and Austrian technology parks inFreistadt and Gmünd. On the Czech sidethere are institutions such as the Facultyof Biological Sciences and the Faculty ofAgriculture of the University of SouthBohemia, Institutes of the Academy ofSciences of the Czech Republic, andresearch prof i t and non-prof i torganisations in České Budějovice. Thedevelopment of biotechnology firms andthe transfer of technologies into practicebenefit from existing close links betweenincubated firms and biotechnologicalresearch at the Academic and UniversityCentre.

The Centre Provides Services to BusinessesAnother objective of the BiotechnologyPark is to transfer technologies intopractice and to provide support tobiotechnology, biochemical, molecular-biological and software firms. Theservices provided by the BiologicalTechnology Centre are used especially bycompanies dealing with biotechnologies.The oldest spin-off firm of the Instituteof Physical Biology of the University ofSouth Bohemia is Gali-3D, a developerof software for three-dimensionalrepresentation of molecules. This system

is used for thepresentat ion andcreat ion of three-dimensional films. Theserv ices of theincubator are used forpresentations, trainingand the developmentof other projectsrelated to biomedicineand software. PSI ofBrno is anothercompany that co-operates with theInstitute of PhysicalBiology of theUniversity of SouthBohemia and theAcademy of Sciencesof the CR andtransposes companyknowledge intopractice. PSI producesinstruments and apparatus for themeasuring of photosynthesis. Otherfirms that use the services offered by theincubator include Biologické produktyTrade and Bonapo, which togetherproduce pure pollen in laboratories andpure spaces. One of the firms working atthe Centre of Biological Technologies isB.P. Medical s.r.o., which focuses on theproduction of bioactive substances frommicro-organisms. It uses the services ofthe technological hall and the pureenvironment of the solar photo-bioreactor. Its new products are applied inbiomedicine and food processing. TheCentre also houses a laboratory for thecultivation of tissue cultures at the USBEInstitute of Systems Biology and Ecologyof the Academy of Sciences, whichcarries out cytocompatibility tests ofbiologically active substances based onmicro organisms and art i f ic ia lsubstances. The laboratory was

established under the framework ofcross-border co-operation with a similarlaboratory in Krems, Austria.

Application of Research ResultsOne of the outputs of the Centre ofBiological Technologies is the concreteapplication of research results inincubated firms. One such firm is B.P.Medical s.r.o., which focuses on theproduction and testing of bioactivesubstances and artificial materialsdesigned for medical use. The target ofB.P. Medical s.r.o. in the incubator is toreplicate the devices and processes usedfor the phototrophic cultivation ofseaweed and blue-green algae createdby researchers of the University and theAcademy so as to make the resultingproducts competitive with biologicallyactive substances and testing standardstraded on the market.

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Poll of Successful Companies Operating in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries

KAUČUK, a.s.

O. Wichterleho 810, 278 52 Kralupy nad Vltavou, phone: +420 315 711 111, fax: +420 315 713 883, e-mail: info@kaucuk.cz,www.kaucuk.cz

Turnover (2005): CZK 10.5 billion – approx. EUR 353.5 millionNumber of employees: 913Contact: Mr René Keller, e-mail: rene.keller@kaucuk.czExports: approx. 60 %, for example to Germany, Austria, Italy,and Poland

KAUČUK, a.s. is a petrochemical company with a long traditionthat dates back to 1954. The company manufactures a wide rangeof products. Its core programme focuses on the manufacture ofplastics and styrene-butadiene caoutchouc. Styrene-butadienecaoutchoucs are produced under the trade name KRALEX. They

CHEMOPETROL, a.s., Litvínov

436 70 Litvínov-Záluží 1, phone: +420 476 161 111, fax: +420 476 709 553, e-mail: info@chemopetrol.cz, www.chemopetrol.cz

Turnover: CZK 28.7 billion – approx. EUR 966.3 millionNumber of employees: approx. 2 400Contact: Mr Pavel Veselý, e-mail: pavel.vesely@chemopetrol.czExport: for example Germany, Poland, Italy, Turkey, and Russia

CHEMOPETROL, a.s. Litvínov is the largest petrochemicalenterprise in the Czech Republic and one of the country’s mostimportant manufacturing companies. Chemopetrol is a subsidiary100 % owned by Unipetrol refinery and petrochemical holding,62.99 % of which are owned by the Polish consortium PKN Orlen.The company is a key supplier of products designed for furtherprocessing, especially in the chemical industry, but also in theplastics and pharmaceutical industries. Chemopetrolmanufactures ethylene, propylene, polypropylene, benzene,ammonia, urea, and a large number of other commodities.

Chemopetrol is one of the largest petrochemicalcompanies in the Czech Republic. What is the leadingstrategy of your company?Chemopetrol is working to develop the key sectors of its businessactivities and is striving to strengthen its position on targetmarkets by offering a wide range of petrochemical andagrochemical products and high-quality secondary services. Itscontinuous development is possible thanks to highly qualified staffand the company’s capacity for innovation.

By practicing an open approach to partnership, Chemopetrolhopes to be perceived as a forward-looking company witha sophisticated corporate culture and a proactive attitude towardsenvironmental protection and the development of the region.

Could you indicate your most important exportterritories? What are your next plans for conqueringforeign markets?Chemopetrol’s main export territories are the EU states and otherEuropean countries, countries of the Middle East, as well ascountries of the former Soviet Union.

Chemopetrol focuses primarily on meeting the demand of Czechcustomers, although we shall naturally continue to serve our long-term customers and address new customers in Europeancountries.

Chemopetrol is one of key suppliers to various branches of industry

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C Z E C H C H E M I C A L A N D P H A R M A C E U T I C A L I N D U S T R Y

Spolek pro chemickou a hutní výrobu, akciová společnost (SPOLCHEMIE)

Revoluční 86, 400 32 Ústí nad Labem, phone: +420 477 161 111, fax: +420 477 163 333, e-mail: info@spolchemie.cz,www.spolchemie.cz

Turnover (2006 – estimate): approx. CZK 4.1 billion – approx.EUR 138 millionNumber of employees: 1090Contact: Mr Vladislav Plocek, e-mail: plocek@spolchemie.czExport: 86 %, for example to Germany, Italy, France, Poland,Belgium, Austria, Great Britain, and Sweden.

SPOLCHEMIE, a.s. (Spolek pro chemickou a hutní výrobu, a.s. –Chemical and Metallurgical Manufacturers Association)celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006. It is one of the leadingchemical manufacturers in the CR, and thanks to its investmentin a new epoxy plant, it is also one of Europe’s largestmanufacturers of synthetic resins, currently the chief productionsegment.

Your company has invested in its productionfacilities in recent years. Can you specify whichconcrete investment was made and describe itsimpact on the company as a whole?The first step was the launch of operation at the newEPISPOL I epoxy plant in 2005 and at the POLYSPOL polyesterand alkyl plant in 2006. Thanks to these new plants we areable to offer our customers products of world standardsmade using the very latest equipment. The second importantstep was the launching at the end of 2006 of a modernepichlorhydride plant. Epichlorhydride is the basic material

used for epoxy production. Now our epoxy production willno longer be affected by fluctuations on the market of basicmaterials. This step will also significantly improve the level ofour production costs and will help to keep costs in check.

are chiefly used in the rubber and footwear industries and for themanufacture of small home accessories and sports requisites.KRASTEN is a trademark for standard or impact polystyrene. Thismaterial is used primarily in electrical engineering and theconsumer and food industries. KOPLEN foamed polystyrene is thebasic material for the manufacture of shapes, foils, blocks,insulating boards and is widely used in construction. FORSAN isa trademark for the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS)used for the manufacture of interior and exterior fixtures ofvehicles. FORSAN can also be used in the consumer and electricalengineering industries.

What strategy do you use to remain competitive on the chemical products market?We manufacture high-quality goods at competitive prices and relyon excellent technological backing. Our customers include globalcompanies engaged in plastics processing (heat insulationsystems, packaging for electronic products and food), and tyremanufacturers.

Which products do you supply to your largestcustomers?Our largest customers are mainly interested in purchasing ourpolystyrene plastics (PS), supplied under the trade names

KRASTEN (HIPS and GPPS), KOPLEN – foamed polystyrene andFORSAN – ABS group plastics and styrene-butadiene caoutchoucsmanufactured under the trade name KRALEX.

Plastics and caoutchouc production is the company’s core programme

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Spolchemie uses the world’s most up-to-date equipment

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AVEFLOR, a.s.

Budčeves 26, 507 32 Kopidlno, phone: +420 493 551 111, fax: +420 493 551 112, e-mail: aveflor@aveflor.cz, www.aveflor.cz

AVEFLOR, a.s. is a specialist in the production of spraypreparations. The company is a manufacturer of cosmeticsand veterinary and technical preparations. It offers complete

services, ranging from the development of new productsand product approval, the purchase of raw and packingmaterials to production and delivery to the customer. Its

Herbacos – Bofarma, s.r.o.

Štrossova 239, 530 03 Pardubice, phone: +420 466 614 600, fax: +420 466 614 600, e-mail: hbf@hbf.cz, www.hbf.cz

Turnover (2005): CZK 292.3 million – approx. EUR 10.4 millionNumber of employees (2005): 114Contact: Ms Milena Cvrčková, e-mail: hbf@hbf.czExports: for example to Slovakia, Portugal, and Bulgaria

HERBACOS-BOFARMA, s.r.o. is an important Czech genericspharmaceutical company and promoter of new trends. Its productrange is based on a foundation of the latest scientific knowledgeas well as respect for traditional experience. Modern technologiesare employed in production to ensure the high quality of bothnew and conventional formulae.

You are a 100% Czech company. What, in youropinion, is the position of Czech pharmaceuticalfirms?The position of Czech pharmaceutical firms is not simple, which isreflected, among other things, by the fact that HERBACOS-BOFARMA is the only company among the top fiftypharmaceutical companies that is owned exclusively by Czechcapital.

You have also penetrated foreign markets. Where doyou maintain your strongest position? Which of yourproducts is in greatest demand abroad?

As regards foreign markets, our aim is to operate chiefly on theSlovak market. Our most successful products here are massproduced drugs, especially established trademarks, such asValetol, Acylpyrin, and Veral.

Pharmaceutical Companies

The company uses modern technologies in its production

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The next step will be to double the existing epoxy productioncapacity after 2007 by launching a new plant, the EPISPOL II.Our strategy is to strengthen our position on the Europeanepoxy market. Thanks to a boom on the market ofcomposites and electro-applications and the stable demandfor applications in construction and in the manufacture ofpaints, this market also promises a bright future forSpolchemie.

Have you broadened your production programmerecently?We responded to current changes in legislation that requirecompanies to limit volatile organic compound emissions byintroducing a completely new range of water soluble resins - theCHS-HYDROSOPOL high solid resins. In recent years we have focusedon expanding our product range in the epoxy group by includingspecial glues and systems for the production of composites,laminates, and castings for electro-motors and transformers.

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competit ive advantage is its "clean" manufacturingenvironment, which allows it to meet hygienic requirementsand manufacture drugs and medicines in sterile form. Greatemphasis is placed on the quality of products and services aswell as on environmental requirements and work safety.

What is the company’s philosophy?AVEFLOR’s philosophy can be characterised by the principlesit follows, such as the satisfaction of customers, satisfactionof employees, and their identification with the company’svision, mission, and strategy, its positive behaviour inrelation to the environment, work safety and healthprotection, and the spreading of the company’s good namein the region, throughout the CR and in other countries.

Which new items will appear in your productrange in 2007?In 2007 we shall introduce a number of new items on themarket in two or three basic series. We are broadening ourrange of hair cosmetics in the Fruit Line, where we plan tolaunch new shampoos, conditioners, and care cosmetics. Inaddition, we are launching two new product ranges,AVEmen and AVEwomen.

Turnover (2005): CZK 60 million – approx. EUR 2 millionNumber of employees: 30Contact: Mr Jiří Zubatý, e-mail: reditel@aveflor.czExports: 50 %, for example to Russia, Germany, Slovakia,Poland, and Lithuania Aveflor is a specialist in spray preparations

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I N F O R M AT I O N

PRAGOMEDICA29th international medical fair17–20 April 2007, Prague Exhibition GroundsIncheba Praha spol. s r.o., e-mail: m.benesova@incheba.cz,www.incheba.cz/pragomedica

HOSPIMedica Brno/Central EuropeInternational fair for medical technology, rehabilitation, andhealthcare16–19 October 2007, Brno Exhibition CentreVeletrhy Brno, a.s., e-mail: vmensikova@bvv.cz,www.bvv.cz/hospimedica

Official Participation of the CR in International Fairs and Exhibitions Abroad

BIOTECHNICAInternational trade fair for biotechnology9–11 October 2007, Hannover, Germanye-mail: info@hf-czechrepublic.com, www.biotechnica.de

CPhIInternational chemical and pharmaceutical fair1–3 November 2007, LondonIncheba Praha, s.r.o., www.incheba.cz

MEDICAInternational fair for medical equipment14–17 November 2007, DüsseldorfVeletrhy Brno, a.s., www.bvv.cz

Exhibitions and Fairs in the Area of Chemistryand Pharmacy in the Czech Republic in 2007

Important Contacts Ministries

Ministry of Health* www.mzcr.cz tis@mzcr.czMinistry of Industry and Trade of the CR www.mpo.cz mpo@mpo.czMinistry of the Environment of the CR www.env.cz info@env.cz

Associations and SocietiesAssociation of Chemical Industry of the CR www.schp.cz vladimir.janecek@schp.czCzech Chemical Society www.csch.cz csch@csch.czCzech Society of Chemical Engineering www.cschi.cz cschi@csvts.czCzech Association of Pharmaceutical Companies www.aff.cz caff@aff.czCzech Pharmaceutical Society www.cfs-cls.cz jahodar@faf.cuni.cz

InstitutionsState Veterinary Administration of the CR www.svscr.cz e.podatelna@svscr.czState Institute for Drug Control www.sukl.cz sukl@sukl.czNational Institute for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection CR www.sujchbo.cz sujchbo@sujchbo.cz

UniversitiesInstitute of Chemical Technology Prague www.vscht.cz Ivana.Cerhova@vscht.czUniversity of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno www.vfu.cz fvl@vfu.czCharles University PragueFaculty of Pharmacy Hradec Králové www.faf.cuni.cz lic@faf.cuni.cz

InstitutesPolymer Institute Brno, spol. s r. o. www.polymer.cz pib@polymer.czResearch Institute of Organic Syntheses www.vuos.cz vuosas@vuos.czResearch Centre for Environmental Chemistry and EcoTOXicology (RECETOX) http://recetox.chemi.muni.cz holoubek@recetox.muni.czPharmacon Research www.pharmacon.cz pharmacon@pharmacon.czCentre of Epidemiology and Microbiology www.szu.cz/cem/hpcem.htm sekrcem@szu.czCEPHA s.r.o. - Centre for Pharmacology and Analysis www.cepha.cz bazant@cepha.czBIOPHARM, Research Institute of Biopharmacy and Veterinary Drugs www.bri.cz biopharm@bri.cz Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals www.icpf.cas.cz icecas@icpf.cas.czInstitute of Analytical Chemistry www.iach.cz/uiach uach@iach.czJ. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry www.jh-inst.cas.cz director@jh-inst.cas.czInstitute of Inorganic Chemistry www.iic.cas.cz sekretar@iic.cas.czInstitute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry www.uochb.cas.cz uochb@uochb.cas.czInstitute of Macromolecular Chemistry www.imc.cas.cz office@imc.cas.czInstitute of Experimental Medicine http://uemweb.biomed.cas.cz krizova@biomed.cas.czInstitute of Pharmacology www.cas.cz fku@cas.cz *

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