Ljubljana - The Swiss pharma giant Novartis continued to invest in its R&D and production capacities in Slovenia through its subsidiaries Lek, Sandoz and Novartis Pharma Services last year. Despite the Covid-19 epidemic, it invested EUR 204 million in the country, show figures presented on Tuesday.

The company said this marked the continuation of its efforts to expand its R&D and production facilities in line with its plan to transform from a generics to an innovative pharmaceutical company.

In the last 17 years, Novartis has invested more than EUR 2.7 billion in development, modernisation and expansion of its facilities in Slovenia. At the end of 2020, the group employed more than 4,890 people here.

Its production facilities in Slovenia manufactured 27 innovative medicines last year.

Holding a combined 13.9% share on the Slovenian market through all of its divisions, Novartis said it remained the leading pharmaceutical company in the country.

Lek, which holds a 29.3% share in the market of generics, is the second largest producer of generics in the country. It also remains the second largest provider of prescription drugs and the leading provider of over-the counter drugs in the country.