From Amoxicillin tablets to EU GMP factory chain

Từ viên thuốc Amoxillin đến chuỗi nhà máy EU GMP- Ảnh 1.

Despite great efforts, the situation at that time had changed, forcing many pharmaceutical companies and factories to close. Facing the risk of closing, the Imexpharm team at that time persisted in maintaining production, while at the same time finding ways to proactively manage output.

And the anecdote "The birth of the first Amoxicillin tablets" also originated from this turbulent period. At that time, in Vietnam, factories had not yet produced Amoxicillin - an antibiotic in the penicillin group used to treat infections. Whenever Amoxicillin was mentioned, people in the country would immediately think of importing goods from France. With the desire to find a different path, People's Physician, Pharmacist Tran Thi Dao - General Director of Imexpharm, at that time a young and enthusiastic pharmacist, boldly thought of importing raw materials to produce Amoxicillin.

She went to wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City herself to observe and learn how to trade to find outlets. Everything started from scratch but with the tireless efforts of many people. After thoroughly researching, she decided to import one kilogram of raw materials to produce the first batch of Amoxicillin and successfully conducted a clinical trial. From here, thanks to the determination of the young pharmacist, Imexpharm was able to produce Amoxicillin at that time.

Giai đoạn đóng gói tại nhà máy Imexpharm — Packaging stage at Imexpharm factory

In 1994, a major incident happened to Imexpharm, which was a factory fire. Given the economic situation - in the renovation period, this was a real shock to a young enterprise. However, thanks to the resilience of the captain, the solidarity of all staff, and the help from the government and partners, Imexpharm overcame the difficulties and continued to develop.

Recalling the difficult time, Ms. Dao emotionally shared:

Từ viên thuốc Amoxillin đến chuỗi nhà máy EU GMP- Ảnh 3.

In 1997, Imexpharm made an important step forward when it invested in a GMP-ASEAN standard oral Nonbetalactam factory with the consulting support of Dr. Hartmut Haulth, a leading European expert on quality management systems and technology from the Austrian Biochemie Group (currently Sandoz). In 1999 - 2000, the Company continued to build a GMP-ASEAN standard oral Betalactam factory and successfully promoted franchise production cooperation with the multinational Biochemie Group.

Từ viên thuốc Amoxillin đến chuỗi nhà máy EU GMP- Ảnh 4.

Next is the development period from 2001 to present, marked by the decision to equitize the enterprise, becoming a public company, creating remarkable development steps for Imexpharm.

While businesses faced many difficulties in capital in the period 2001 - 2006, Imexpharm rose up, becoming one of the first pharmaceutical companies in the Corporation to equitize and successfully increased its charter capital, creating a surplus of 100 billion VND in 2006. Also in 2006, Imexpharm officially listed its shares on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange with the code IMP.

Not stopping at being the pioneer in owning a GMP-ASEAN standard factory, in the period of 2007 - 2011, the Company focused all resources, prioritizing the penetration of European standards into Vietnam. The milestone marking this strategy was the operation of the Cephalosporin factory using European technology in Binh Duong with a total investment of 113 billion VND. At the same time, the Company built a Penicillin factory to produce injectable drugs worth 50 billion VND. Following the success, Imexpharm invested in the Betalactam Binh Duong High-Tech Factory Cluster (IMP3) and became one of the first few pharmaceutical companies to have 3 EU-GMP standard production lines at the same time. The highlight of this period was that Imexpharm did not borrow from banks in the context of the fluctuating Vietnamese economy at that time.

Từ viên thuốc Amoxillin đến chuỗi nhà máy EU GMP- Ảnh 5. — Employees working at Imexpharm's EU-GMP standard factory

2017 - 2023, this is identified as the acceleration phase of Imexpharm when the high-tech factory IMP4 comes into operation and is officially recognized as meeting EU-GMP standards, bringing the total number of EU-GMP production lines to 11 and the most in Vietnam. This is the first time that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted a loan of 8 million USD to Imexpharm to upgrade factories to EU-GMP standards, recognizing the Company's strong and reliable development.

Sharing about this memorable milestone, People's Physician, Pharmacist Tran Thi Dao said: "Over the past 46 years, Imexpharm has taken advantage of every opportunity to invest in advanced technology and infrastructure. By pioneering the construction of factories according to international standards; focusing on training and developing human resources; rapidly diversifying the product portfolio..., Imexpharm has realized its commitments to investors, partners, employees, customers and the community, to mark the green lotus symbol on the map of the pharmaceutical industry at home and abroad".

Ông Huỳnh Văn Nhung, Phó TGĐ khối Chất Lượng đại diện Imexpharm nhận giải thưởng Ngôi Sao Thuốc Việt -1 — Mr. Huynh Van Nhung, Deputy General Director of Quality Division, representing Imexpharm, received the Vietnamese Medicine Star Award -1

Từ viên thuốc Amoxillin đến chuỗi nhà máy EU GMP- Ảnh 7.

It can be said that 2023 is the "fruition" of Imexpharm's efforts to invest systematically in quality over a long period of time. The company has set a record for business growth with revenue reaching VND 2,113 billion, an increase of 26% compared to the industry's general growth rate of 8%. Currently, Imexpharm continues to be the unit that owns the most EU-GMP standard factories in Vietnam with 3 factory clusters and 11 production lines.

"I am very pleased that Imexpharm was recently honored to receive the "Vietnamese Medicine Star" award for the second time from the Ministry of Health and the Drug Administration. The award affirms Imexpharm's leading position in product quality and Imexpharm's role in providing good, effective, and reasonably priced medicines to meet the health care and treatment needs of people and medical facilities in the country," Ms. Dao emotionally shared.

In a challenging business environment and changing disease patterns, antibiotics are still the dominant product line in the pharmaceutical market, accounting for 12% of the total market value, and are expected to continue to grow at a growth rate of 9.2% until 2027 (according to IQVIA). This encourages Imexpharm to continuously maximize the exploitation of antibiotic products manufactured at EU-GMP standard factories.