Aché

About Aché

Aché Laboratórios Farmacêuticos S.A. is a company 100% national. Since its organization, more than four decades ago, Aché has been consolidated as a dynamic company when it comes to the establishment of strategic business partnerships, in the country and abroad, based on its expertise on the development of similar drugs, management of a strong portfolio, knowledge of the Brazilian market, and the continuous development of products and services in a way to meet the healthcare professionals’ and customers’ needs, promoting health and well-being to the population.

With over 3 thousand collaborators, it counts on three industrial plants. The biggest one is located in the city of Guarulhos, in the Greater São Paulo, which is also the company’s headquarters. The second plant is located at Avenida Nações Unidas, south region of the city of São Paulo, and the third one is located in the state of Goiás, with the acquisition of 50% of the pharmaceutical company Melcon, specialized in the production of female hormones. Aché obtained in early 2011 an expressive income, with a consolidated Ebitda of R$ 416 million.

Based on its strategic goal of operating as a complete solution company, Aché acts in three key-segments of the pharmaceutical sector: Rx Only, Generic, and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs. It keeps a diversified and wide portfolio with more than 250 brands marketed in approximately 600 presentations, covering most therapeutic classes.

Pharmaceutical Partnership Silanes – Mexico

The business partnership with the Mexican pharmaceutical company Silanes, with the export of Aché products to Mexico and the incorporation of drugs manufactured by Silanes into the Brazilian sales portfolio, for example, introduced Aché to the diabetes segment and also consolidated its international experience.

Focusing on Innovation

Aché has always developed new presentations and versions to its drugs, in order to increase the therapeutic options to both doctors and patients. The company currently invests in the research and development of phytomedicines, products developed from the standardized plant extract.

Launched in June 2005, Acheflan® (Cordia verbenacea) was the first drug 100% national. For that, it was required seven years of study, R$ 15 million in research investments, and association with important national universities and internationally-renowned researchers.

Acheflan® (Cordia verbenacea) is an anti-inflammatory drug of topic (cream) and spray use, indicated for the treatment of chronic tendinitis and myofascial (muscular) pain. The oral version is already been studied, in addition to investigations about its use in hand and knee arthrosis and dermatologic use. In addition to Acheflan, the company also counts on other phytomedicines, all developed from Brazilian plants.

Industrial Core

In order to keep an updated and custom-made portfolio based on the market demands, Aché make investments from time to time and every year applies 10% of its cash flow in research and development studies.

Modernization of the industrial park, which started at the and of 2006, associated with a review of the internal processes, training programs, and professional qualification of its teams and inter-plants planning, positively reflected in the company’s 2008 results. With the completion of the first phase of the Guarulhos plant (SP), the production of Liquids and Semi-Solids and the compression and encapsulation of Solids became fully automated. This change enabled Aché to optimize the equipment found in the Nações Unidas plant, located in the city of São Paulo, and the Guarulhos plant. The adjusted inter-plants planning and the scale gains – consequence of an increase in the demand generated by the business units, led to a 10% reduction in the unit costs of the production.

Productive process excellence

Works planned to 2011 will improve the people and material flow, promoting greater efficiency to the processes and establishing the conditions for new certifications. In total, Aché completes the modernization and amplification project of the industrial park with investments of R$ 267.3 million, of which R$ 22.5 million were applied in 2010. Modernization of machinery and equipment is made concurrently and on a continuous basis. Industrial park adjustments to an increasing production scale required investments of R$ 10.6 million. With the economic improvement observed in the last two years, the unit cost reduction was of 12.3%. The manufactured volume increased 14.3% with a cost reduction of about R$ 7.8 million. The installed capacity increased 12% and the production total reached 265 million units per year, in two shifts.

Mission, Vision and Values

Vision

Be the best pharmaceutical lab in Brazil, preferred by consumers and health professionals, by making the access to innovative products and services possible, and which promote the health and well-being of the entire population.

Mission

Continuously make available with quality, creativity and convenience, innovative and accessible products and services that promote consumer health and well being, with motivated and qualified employees, and respect to people and the environment.

Values

Integrity
Respect to People
Respect to the Environment
Enterprising Spirit
Innovation
Sustainable Growth

Business Units

To use the most of the synergies of each area and offer products and services of the best quality, Aché is organized into Business Units, namely: Prescription Business Unit (I and II), OTC, Generics and Research, Development and Innovation (?PD&I?). These units are supported by the Commercial Center, Industrial Center, and the Corporate Center, which gather the following departments: Financial, Legal, Shared Services Center, HR, Medical-Scientific, and Risk Management. The company also has New Products department, which is dedicated to the renewal and growth of the Aché portfolio to meet the expectations of health professionals and consumer needs.

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