(PM) Berlin, 05.03.2012 - The joint-stock company Polfarma Pharmaceutical Factory increased its stake in OJSC Integrated Chemical and Pharmaceutical Enterprise Akrikin from 72.54% to 98.17%. Akrikhin is the fifth largest local producer by revenue 2010 and one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies on the Russian market. The Akrikhin revenue in 2011 grew by almost 18% from 3. 609 billion Rub to 4.254 billion Rub.

Chameleon Pharma Consulting comments: During the last year Polfarma has already acquired a big share in a leading pharmaceutical factory in Kazakhstan. But it is difficult for the company to achieve substantial growth in Poland. With this idea Polfarma seems to follow a strategy to move east in order to grow further. We also observe that these are mostly the CEE companies, which enter growing countries like Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, Pharma Players from western markets often use their existing Russian or Ukrainian partner to handle countries like Kazakhstan. We, Chameleon Pharma, always recommend to have a single good performing partner in Kazakhstan and to handle this interesting market directly.