Aché

Aché Laboratórios Farmacêuticos S.A: 42-year story of success

Transforming and evolving year after year: these are the premises that have always guided Aché’s operations. The company’s road to success can be explained by its having adopted a bold, combative, daring and innovative posture.

How it all began

In 1966, the company Prodoctor Produtos Farmacêuticos, which had been founded a year earlier, bought the Aché laboratory and brand name from the businessman Agostinho Cabreira. From this point on, the company started to take off, growing in all senses: in production - due to the improved industrial facilities; in terms of the products on offer - through the creation of new product ranges; and also in sales. These good results led to the expansion of the factory. Aché was taking large strides forward, gaining fame and strength, sustaining its growth path and setting off on the road to success.

Its products started to gain market share. The nasal decongestant Sorine®, launched in 1967, for example, is still the leader in its segment. With the growth and success of the new medicines, the Santana factory could no longer handle production. So, the partners bought a 15,000m² plot of land alongside the Presidente Dutra Highway, in Guarulhos (SP). In 1973, Aché transferred its operations to its new facilities, which were designed by Ruy Ohtake. That year, Aché was amongst the 10 largest laboratories in the country.

In 1978, the company Química Aché was created, as part of the laboratory’s quality control project.

Acquisitions leading to growth

The first acquisition was made in 1979, with the Bracco group, which bought Novotherápica, one of the oldest Brazilian laboratories. During the same year, Aché was elected "Company of the Year" by the now-defunct Visão Magazine, with the best performance and profits in the pharmaceuticals sector. The following year, Tandrilax®, an analgesic, muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory medicine was launched, which soon became very successful.

In 1983, the Brazilian division of the multinational Parke Davis was acquired, which resulted in more equipment, more employees and higher production. This continuous growth in the business could easily be seen by the building work that was no sooner finished than it was necessary to begin again.

Another bold Ache strategy was the launch of NeoDecapeptyl®, in 1987, with novel microcapsule technology. Bolder still was the partnership of Aché and Merck Sharp & Dohme, to form a joint venture, which resulted in the setting up of the binational company Prodome. Three years later, in 1990, Aché obtained control of 42% of the multinational Schering-Plough.

Another Ruy Ohtake project was the intelligent building, which started to be built in 1995. The company also decided to construct a state-of-the-art building for the production area. This construction, which houses some of the most secure equipment, systems and processes developed in the world, was the start of the Farma Project.

In 1996, Aché won the "Corporate Excellence Prize", awarded by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation, and took over first position in the Mercosur. During the same year, the medicinal product packagings were adapted so they could be printed in Braille, a first for the Brazilian market.

This same period was also important for the evolution of Aché’s research, with the setting up of a Research and Development Strategy Center (Neped). A pioneer in the pharmaceutical sector, this group started to study plants with medicinal potential to create phytomedicines – medicines produced from standardized vegetable extracts, of proven scientific effectiveness and quality. The first rewards of these studies were reaped in 2003, with the launch of Aché’s first phytomedicine, Soyfemme®, which is soy-based.

Domestic leader

In 2001, Aché registered two important achievements. The company was granted ISO 14001 certification, dealing with environmental management, and OHSAS 18001 certification, which deals with health and safety at work.

In 2003, the company underwent further changes on the path towards continuous growth and the leadership of the domestic market. On the decision of the Advisory Council, Aché incorporated ASTAMedica. The merger of these companies guaranteed the laboratory an advantageous position in different market areas, when compared to the competition, and consolidated its position as the largest pharmaceuticals company in Brazil.

In 2005, Aché acquired Biosintética Farmacêutica. This acquisition is part of Aché’s strategic plan, which was established in 2004, which aims for, amongst other things, sustained growth, leadership of the domestic market, greater capacity for investment in innovation, and strengthening of the product portfolio. The complementary portfolio and cultural similarities of the two companies were the main factors that led to the acquisition of Biosintética.

With this integration, Aché now had 250 therapeutic alternatives and the company moved into new segments such as the cardiovascular area and generic medicines, and the expanded its portfolio in the central nervous system, dermatology, respiratory, oncology and generic medicine areas.

Large range of OTCs and generic medicines

OTCs and generic medicines are today another strong area of Aché’s operation. As well as owning brand leaders such as Sorine®, Biofenac® Spray, Transpulmin®, Flagass® and Flogoral®, the company is also investing in expanding its portfolio of OTCs, with the migration of established prescription medicines, such as the analgesic and muscle relaxant Dorilax®, to the other side of the counter in drugstores and pharmacies throughout Brazil. At the time of the integration, the generic medicine range was offering 70 molecules, in around 100 packagings.

Focus on innovation

Aché has always developed new packagings and versions of its medicines, with the aim of increasing the therapeutic alternatives available to doctors and patients.

Aware of the way that the domestic market is evolving, Aché has adopted a development strategy with the bold characteristics for which it has always been known: it is currently investing in the research and development of phytomedicines – products developed from standardized plant extracts. As an example of this investment, we can mention the launch of the first 100% Brazilian medical product. This involved seven years of study, more than R$ 15 million invested in research, partnerships with important Brazilian universities, and internationally famous researchers. The product is Acheflan® (Cordia verbenacea), which was launched in June 2005. This is an anti-inflammatory medicine that was put on the market as a cream, which is indicated in cases of chronic tendinitis and muscle pains. Spray and oral versions are already under study, as is research into its use in arthrosis of the hand and knee and in dermatology. Alongside Acheflan, the company has other phytomedicines, all sourced from Brazilian plants.

Furthermore, Aché is investing heavily in the development of synthetic medicines, especially in incremental research, and always in partnership with Brazilian research centers, with a view to stimulating domestic science.

Aché: Proud to be Brazilian!