Bayer Spain is constantly working to consolidate the Sant Joan Despí center of excellence by incorporating new strategic projects for the entire pharmaceutical group, "attracting new high value-added functions," stated the CEO of Bayer in Spain, Bernardo Kanahuati, in declarations to The New Barcelona Post.
The hub opened its doors more than 20 years ago to provide shared administrative services for the organization and has gradually taken on tasks until becoming "a benchmark" within the network of global centers that the multinational has spread throughout the world. "We have the ambition to continue being a reference area when decisions are made about global strategic projects," explained Kanahuati.
The CEO of Bayer in Spain is confident that this will translate into an increase in the workforce, currently made up of 600 people, after nearly two years ago Bayer centralized logistics and supply chain management for 11 countries in Europe and the Middle East in Barcelona.
Last year, the company invested 2.8 million euros in the Sant Joan Despí facilities to adapt them to the new hybrid work model and for the launch throughout 2022 of the LifeHub Barcelona, an "open innovation space" to facilitate the interaction of workers, startups, universities, and institutions.
In this regard, Bernardo Kanahuati believes it is an opportunity to foster innovation and "act as an accelerator for disruptive ideas from the local ecosystem, in the health and food sectors, with the aim of accompanying them in the development and transformation into concrete projects that, in the health segment, can be scaled for the benefit of patients, and in the food sector, be beneficial for farmers."
Along these lines, the head of the pharmaceutical company in Spain does not rule out that Bayer may participate in the capital of new companies arising from this initiative, but "it is not our initial approach; although we will study case by case," he specified.
In 2021, Bayer carried out an ERE (Employment Regulation File) that resulted in 62 departures of employees dedicated to the pharmaceutical business and personal care products. The company's current workforce in Spain stands at 2,200 employees, of whom more than 1,000 are located at the Sant Joan Despí facilities.
Regarding the investments Bayer made in Spain as a whole during 2021, these reached 71.3 million euros, a record figure representing an 8.9% increase compared to 2020. Of the total amount, almost 40 million euros were allocated to innovation, equally divided between agriculture and health. In the latter area, the multinational highlights its role in pharmaceuticals for the development of all clinical phases for new drugs, as it has the support of 6,000 patients and collaboration with 800 healthcare centers.
The remaining 31 million in investment were allocated to infrastructure, both in factories and at the Sant Joan Despí headquarters. Bernardo Kanahuati specified that this volume of resources does not include the 70 million for the Viralgen subsidiary plant in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country.
Sales, back to pre-pandemic levels
"The year 2021 has been a very complete and solid year," affirmed the CEO during the presentation of the annual results, which concluded with sales of 697 million euros, with a growth of 4.7% over the previous year and exceeding pre-pandemic results. Of the total, 359 million came from the prescription medicines area, an 8% increase, due to the recovery in sales of cardiovascular treatments and for the prevention of ophthalmological diseases.
Through its agriculture division, Bayer generated 246 million in Spain, a 3.5% increase, mainly thanks to the Dekalb seed business and the evolution of herbicide and insecticide solutions.
The third business division in Spain, personal care products, saw sales totaling 92 million, with a 3.3% decrease still due to the effects of the pandemic, as prevention against COVID transmission has resulted in a much lower incidence of respiratory diseases or flu. However, Bayer expects to recover business in this area this year with the sale of flu remedies and "with new launches," which will also be accompanied by the renovation it has carried out in its line of dermatological products and its commitment to nutritional supplements.