Lebanese pharmaceutical company Benta (BPI) has acquired the famous pharmaceutical factory Famar in Lyon, France, as part of its strategic plan of global expansion, according to a statement from the company.
This factory, located in Saint-Genis-Laval region in Lyon, in the biggest industrial zone in France outside Paris (Ile de France).
Founded in 1982, by Rhône-Poulenc before being owned by Sanofi-Aventis until 2004 and is affiliated to the Greek group Famar, who owns twelve sites worldwide. The factory comprises nine buildings totaling 55 000 m2 over an area of 160 000 m2. The Famar factory in Lyon produces dozens of therapeutic drugs: cardiovascular, antidiabetic, neuroleptic… in accordance with subcontracts with global companies such as Merck, Sanofi, Abbott, Mylan, Astellas, Pfizer, and P&G, and others.
Bernard Tannoury, CEO of BPI, said that this acquisition of the French factory “will offer a global perspective for the Lebanese pharmaceutical industry and will provide us with big production capacities and will allow us to enter new markets globally”.
According to the statement, Benta’s aim is to develop the Famar factory, increase its production, and add some drugs it produces in its factories in Lebanon in order to reach global markets. It underlined that this acquisition would contribute to the development of Benta’s technical and productive capacities thanks to its exposure to the French pharmaceutical industry.
Mr. Tannoury is thankful to the French government’s support for this acquisition through Business France and the Métropole de Lyon, given that the Benta Pharma project aims to strengthen Famar’s presence in France and in Europe while promoting the pharmaceutical industry in France.