David López, our international director, gives us his views on the current international market dynamics in the business of allergen and bacterial vaccines and the company growing plans in the incoming years
- What’s the greatest challenge you’ve faced as International Director of Asac Pharmaceutical Immunology?
Due to some changes in our internal policy, API has spent a few years away from the international market.
Once the new plant opened and production was once again kick started, we came up against the pandemic, which brought international trade to a halt. When the global health situation gets back to normal, we hope to continue growing at a steady rate.
- In which markets are you currently working? And which markets would you like to break into in the near future?
At the moment we’re busy with our branches in Latin America, Brazil, Mexico and Eastern Europe. Our goal is to expand to other markets using our current ones as a conduit. Central America and Central and Eastern Europe are the next markets that we’ll turn our heads to, but I’m particularly intrigued by the potential of MENA (Middle East and North Africa).
- What is the role of the current global market in the world of allergy and bacterial vaccines?
The allergen and bacterial immunotherapy market is more conservative and it doesn’t tend to undergo such big changes. Nowadays, we are faced with more and more allergic and polysensitised patients, as well as a society that is more resistant to antibiotics. As a result, this market is growing.
However, as a consequence of the health crisis, it’s proving increasingly more complicated to develop new markets. For example, medical conferences, which are a great place to create new alliances and strengthen existing relationships, are now being held as hybrid events, half online and half in-person, making it difficult for us to pursue the necessary avenues. Regardless, API boasts an extensive portfolio of products for sublingual and subcutaneous allergy immunotherapy, bacterial immunotherapy and diagnosis, allowing us to adapt to the particular needs of any market in the world. In addition, we have a long list of allergy and bacteria needs that we are able to cover.
- What’s the key for immunotherapy to keep gathering steam within the company from your point of view?
Investing in and developing our own unique product is indispensable, especially on a global level. R&D is also vital. Over the last year we’ve increased the concentration of our allergens and we’ve innovated with new presentations specially for polysensitised patients.
- How does Asac Pharmaceutical Immunology provide its international distributors and branches with added value? What makes you stand out from the rest?
API is fully committed to customer service. We try to adapt to each of our clients’ needs by offering them products for the predominant allergen in their region, such as Ambrosia in Central Europe and Lepidoglyphus in colder climates.
- How does the company plan on growing over the next few years? Where do you see Asac Pharmaceutical Immunology in ten years’ time?
Our own growth will come about mainly as a result of the growth of the neighbouring countries of where we are currently located. We also want to increase our range of diagnostic pricks to include new species, as well as to propose new products to offer a wider range of services in the countries where we have a market.
We believe that new regulatory requirements are going to bring about important changes in the immunotherapy market and open up new opportunities. I feel that API’s position as a specialist player in sublingual allergy immunotherapy gives it the perfect launchpad to come up with new allergy products and combinations that will continue to improve patient care.
