Antibiotice Iasi pharmaceutical company has signed, together with the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE), a financing contract worth 75 million euros for the development of a Center for Research-Development and Production of Critical Medicines, through the Health Program - Priority 9 (STEP).
According to a press release from the company issued to AGERPRES on Tuesday, the project "Inova a+ Research-Development Center and Critical Medicines Production" will support the Romanian healthcare system by creating a modern production infrastructure for critical medicines, while also contributing to the strategic autonomy of the European Union in the pharmaceutical field, to securing supply chains and to increasing the resilience of European healthcare systems.
More than half of the total eligible value of the project (52%) represents non-repayable financing provided by MIPE, the difference being supported by Antibiotice, and the implementation of the project is planned for the period November 2025 - November 2029.
The project includes two major components oriented towards innovation and the expansion of industrial production, namely: the INOVA a+ Research-Development Center (a modern structure that will generate innovative solutions and technology transfer in the fields of biotechnologies and critical medicines, to be built in Iasi, on the Antibiotice platform) and a production unit for critical medicines.
"The INOVA a+ research center marks an important milestone for the Romanian pharmaceutical industry, through a strategic investment that shifts the focus from the production of generic drugs to internal scientific development and applied innovation. This investment represents a strong signal that Romania is starting to build a research and development (R&D) infrastructure on a competitive basis, in a field so far dominated by technological imports. The impact of the new center goes beyond the company's borders and stimulates academic partnerships, attracts high-level specialists and creates the premises for the integration of the complete value chain - from fundamental research and experimental development, to production and export. Through INOVA a+, Antibiotice confirms its commitment to supporting domestic scientific progress and contributing to the transformation of the Romanian pharmaceutical industry into a regional innovation hub," the press release reads.
At the same time, the new generic drug production unit will have an annual production capacity of 100 million equivalent vials, and through this investment, the company will contribute to reducing Romania's and the European Union's dependence on non-EU suppliers for critical drugs.
"Critical medicines are medicines whose continuous supply is considered a priority for health systems and whose lack could have serious consequences for the health of patients. A critical medicine is identified by combining two main criteria: (1) the severity of the disease it treats and (2) the availability of therapeutic alternatives at European level. These medicines cover a wide range of therapeutic areas, such as anti-infectious products. The Antibiotice portfolio contains 13 critical medicines aligned with the STEP strategic technologies. By implementing these investments, Antibiotice Iasi consolidates its position as a strategic producer of critical medicines and a trusted partner in the development of an independent, sustainable and innovative European pharmaceutical industry", the cited source reads.
The signing of the contract took place during the 7th meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the Health Program, organized by MIPE and hosted by Antibiotice Iasi November 11-12, 2025.
The event was attended by: Dragos Pislaru - Minister of Investments and European Projects, Alexandru Rogobete - Minister of Health, representatives of the European Commission, MIPE, as well as members of the Monitoring Committee for the Health Program.
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