Combino Pharm Manufacturing (Malta) Ltd, which will start operating in Malta later on this year, has appointed Joseph Spiteri-Gonzi as plant manager for its operations in Malta, and Medichem Manufacturing (Malta) Ltd, a state-of-the-art production facility for the research, development and manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, has appointed Josef N. Grech as its plant manager.
Combino Pharm forms part of Corporación Medichem, a family-owned Spanish group founded in 1971. For over 30 years, this group has manufactured raw materials and finished dosage forms for the pharmaceutical industry in Spain and other countries.
Medichem Manufacturing (Malta) forms part of Medichem SA, an independent Spanish company producing active pharmaceutical ingredients and key intermediates for the pharmaceutical industry.
Mr Spiteri-Gonzi graduated in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Bank, London, in 1987. He held various posts in top management both locally and abroad, in the private sector and in industry, and has been responsible for a number of start-up operations, particularly in the pharmaceutical finished dosage forms. He has also worked in close co-operation with the World Health Organisation on projects, such as Access to Aids drugs.
Combino Pharm was created in 1996 with the goal of developing and commercialising top-quality generic medicines to put therapeutic solutions of proven effectiveness at a lower treatment cost within the reach of the pharmacy and hospital sectors.
Both Combino Pharm Manufacturing (Malta) and Medichem's pharmaceutical plant will be based at the Hal Far Industrial Estate. These production facilities have been designed according to the latest European safety, environment and quality standards, and will be seeking FDA acceptance in 2006.
They plan to be certified according to ISO 9001 and 14001 in line with the same high quality and environmental standards adopted by the mother companies in Spain.
Combino Pharm Manufacturing (Malta) will be managed by Maltese staff and will initially employ about 25. To ensure the highest standards of its operation in Malta, Combino Pharm is currently providing specialised training of Maltese personnel in Spain.
"All the raw materials used in our products, and the finished products themselves, are subject to strict controls in the company's laboratory, which is equipped with the latest instrumentation managed by expert professionals dedicated solely to quality control," Mr Spiteri-Gonzi said. "At our laboratories our R&D teams are working on innovative solutions for the continued development of new generic medicines."
Combino Pharm headquarters are located in Barcelona, Spain. The company serves both the hospital and the retail market. Sales of its products are done by its own sale force in Spain, and through licensing and supply agreements with the major pharmaceutical companies abroad.
Medichem Manufacturing (Malta) will initially employ about 30 staff. Specialised training of Maltese personnel is already ongoing in Spain (since last October) to ensure the highest standards of operation in Malta.
Mr Grech graduated in pharmacy from the University of Malta in 1988 and continued his studies at the University of Sydney, Australia, where he obtained his Masters degree in pharmaceutical chemistry. He has held various managerial posts, both in the public and private sectors, and has been responsible for a number of start-up operations, particularly in the laboratory sector. He has also worked on various projects with international organisations and UN institutions.
Medichem is located in Girona, Spain. The company has consolidated its position in the market, mainly in the United States, Europe and Japan, through advanced research and development, continuous upgrading and improvement of production facilities, strict environmental policies and infrastructure, and by investing in its employees.