Grunenthal sets up five subsidiaries in eastern Europe

Family-owned German drugmaker Grunenthal GmbH has completed a significant step towards pan-European coverage by setting up five new subsidiaries in central and eastern Europe. Four out of these five countries belong to the group of new European Union member states.

The first two subsidiaries, in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, started operating in the last quarter of 2003, while in Slovenia and Croatia, the new subsidiaries commenced as of January 2004. By April, Grunenthal had also set up its own legal entity in Poland where, since 2001, it had been represented by just a company division.

In line with the firm's worldwide strategy, the five new subsidiaries will concentrate on Grunenthal core competence of further improving pain therapy. Based on the marketing of the firm's tramadol, the launch of innovative pain products will secure the building-up phase and long-term success of the new companies, says Grunenthal.