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Millions of euros for new modern laboratory [0]

New laboratory of  JSC «Grindeks» for scale-up procedures and industrial analytics has received one of the most significant amounts of EU fundings that has ever been granted to business companies in Latvia.

In total Latvian pharmaceutical enterprise will invest more than 4,5 million euros – half of the investments is EU granted funding for the creation of new synthesis process in the scaling laboratory, and managers of the project are certain that this laboratory (in comparison with laboratories of similar specifics) will be the most modern laboratory in Europe. “At least we have not found that elsewhere in Europe is something similar to that,” mentions Normunds Zelčāns, Manager of the manufacturing department of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, who is responsible for the new laboratory.

Complicated middle stage
The 200 square meters sized factory of «Grindeks»in Krustpils Street is not a large area but it contains equipment with a total worth of more than five million euros. “For the development of new medications, research in laboratories is needed, as well as the finalization of medicine technologies that is needed for the validation of the series for the needs of clinical trials. Further on medications are brought into manufacturing. So right now we have well developed research and manufacturing – and now we will also have the middle stage - scaling”, tells N. Zelčāns.
One thing is to create new molecule in the laboratory test-tube, but other thing is to manufacture this molecule accurately till milligram in the many cubic meters large manufacturing reactor. "For this reason we need scaling laboratory – in this laboratory we are moving forward from millilitre to ten millilitres, then to litres and so on. This laboratory will work till the amount of approximately one hundred litres,” N. Zelčāns explains the functions of this new equipment.

Available to all
As everything in the project of shared infrastructure this new laboratory should be available to everyone in need for this kind of equipment. “We will carry out orders from other companies, also clients from foreign countries – all interested parties will have the ability to develop parties of new substances for clinical trials in this laboratory. We have not found elsewhere in Europe scaling laboratory as modern as planned here.”
But the orders will be carried out by Latvian scientists - «Grindeks» competitors will not be allowed into laboratory, they will only be able to order synthesis of chemicals. Company plans that investments will pay off in five years time.

Help from Czechs
"I will say this – the most lengthy process was from the idea that we are in need of this kind of laboratory till precise definition of requirements. It took approximately two years to design till the last valves and screws what is actually needed. The building of the laboratory and assembling of equipments will take approximately a year,” mentions N. Zelčāns.

Designers of the new equipment – Czech company GM Project helped in the preparation process of the project. "It was difficult to prepare all the needed documents, we had to fill papers with a total weight of about 20 kilos and everything was needed to be prepared in six copies,” N. Zelčāns shows the two feet high pile of papers. "It would be very difficult for small companies. In the preparation process of documents very many employees of «Grindeks»were involved – within the framework of their competences."

Dangerous work
"Entering the laboratory for the first time feels like entering the movie “Matrix”, says Manager of «Grindeks»Communications Department Laila Kļaviņa. Hundreds of rubber and glass pipes are twisting everywhere, rubber sleeves combine one flask with another, ceramic reactors and tanks that are hidden in steel casings are waiting for the oxidants and reduction agents...
When the new equipment will start to function it will be needed to handle with a great care. For example, it will not be allowed to use photo cameras – because some not stable reactions could react to the energy of the light impulse and that could result in the changes of the ion values, so for example, instead of cycloheksan another substance, for example, benzol could be developed. Not mentioning the fact that something could simply explode...

Appreciates the support

Chairman of the Board of JSC «Grindeks» Valdis Jākobsons, who is delighted for the support, mentions that in the beginning of 90s company received great financial help from the World Bank. In contradiction to many ill-famed cases of squandering «Grindeks»used this money for development, and the total sales of the company since the beginning of 90s has grown almost twenty times.
"This year we finished to pay the credit of World Bank and currently we have received new fundings from EU and we are exploring new options for additional fundings! We will not stop on this! V. Jākobsons laughs. At this process there are many new ideas in the different phases of development, closest to realisation is the construction of new purification plant.

Publication: newspaper "Dienas Bizness"
Published: 27.06.2006
Author: Imants Liepiņš

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