Espicom's generics company reports will help you to understand the dynamic and complex issues affecting the business of leading generic industry players. These informative reports provide an insight into the company, covering the structure of the business, the most recent quarterly and annual financial results, information on the company's active product lines and ANDA approvals, along with a review of major developments, such as M&A activity, strategic alliances, and litigation. Gedeon Richter was founded in 1901 in Hungary, and is that country's largest drug manufacturer. During the Communist era, it was one of the leading suppliers of pharmaceuticals within the Soviet Bloc, and remains one of the principal players in the Russian market. Around two thirds of revenues are still generated in central and eastern Europe. Sales in 2006 amounted to a rise of 21.4% over 2005.

Drugs are sold in Hungary and other CEE markets as branded generics. These are often under patent in western markets, due to the CEE region's historic lack of patent protection for pharmaceuticals.

The company is keen to expand into western markets. Richter has only a limited direct presence in the USA; it currently only holds three ANDAs, for fluconazole, finasteride and most recently terbinafine. It does, however, have supply agreements with a number of US generic companies, including Barr Laboratories and IVAX.

Richter also acts as a distributor for foreign originator companies. Its largest distributed product is Avonex (interferon beta-1a), which it sells for Biogen Idec in a number of CEE markets.

Richter is one of the last major CEE pharmaceutical manufacturers not to be acquired by a multinational manufacturer; almost all the other Hungarian manufacturers are now owned by foreign companies. The Hungarian government retains a 25% stake in the company.