March 31 (SeeNews) - Zentiva Romania [BSE:SCD] said on Tuesday it will increase production of sodium metamizole, the primary substance for painkiller Algocalmin, by up to 300% to meet higher demand from local hospitals and pharmacies due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Zentiva has already increased production for other drugs, such as Paracetamol, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining the production of drugs for other chronic illnesses, it said in a press release.
Romania has confirmed 2,245 cases of the COVID-19 infection and 72 deaths as of Tuesday.
At the end of 2005, Czech Republic based Zentiva acquired 75% of Sicomed, a state owned drug producer built in 1962. In 2009, Zentiva became the generic drug arm of French drug maker Sanofi.
In 2018, global private equity fund Advent International bought Zentiva Romania from Sanofi.
Zentiva Romania was trading 1.79% higher at 2.85 lei ($0.65/ 0.59 euro) on the Bucharest Stock Exchange by 1540 CET.
(1 euro=4.8254 lei)