“While such practice does not become mandatory, we won´t take it.”

Top Team: What is Torrent Brazil´s position about the fractionated drugs?

Orlando Famá Júnior: As our products are for continuous use, it is hard for the patient to buy half a dozen tablets because the physician recommends a treatment of at least fifteen days. Most of our products has two presentations: one for fifteen-day treatment and other for thirty days. As a consequence, there is no need of having fractionated drugs. We are afraid of fraud and the fractionated drugs can stimulate such practice, such as an inappropriate change of product by non-ethical clerks. Torrent´s position is: while such practice does not become mandatory, we won´t take it because we don´t see the point in doing so.  

Top Team: How do you see the drug fraud? 

Orlando Famá Júnior: I have already worked in several laboratories and most of them had products counterfeid. We denounced them and said where they were being traded. So, I have lived with forgery for years. In the case of Torrent, we still haven´t found counterfeid products. The Brazilian people are very creative and always find a way of becoming rich illegaly.

Top Team: When you mentioned that the fractionated medicines would stimulate fraud, was it because such practice is easy to be done?

Orlando Famá Júnior: The fractionated medicine loses a guarantee that The Brazilian Sanitary Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) implemented. On the other hand, the fractionated drug would be sold in blister or an envelope which would make this safety system vulnerable.

Top Team: Do you see any contradiction in the fact that Anvisa  has created a safety system but at the same time they allow the fractionated medicines to be sold in some cases? 

Orlando Famá Júnior: There is certainly a contradiction. I find it a contradiction. Anvisa has always been concerned about keeping the quality of the pharmaceutical products and, all of a sudden, aproves a fraction policy that is very dangerous. 

 Top Team: To wrap up, what are Torrent goals for  2007? 

Orlando Famá Júnior: In 2007, we aim to earn U$ 75 million dollars and reach the thirtieth postion in the ranking. When we get the thirtieth position we intend to reach the twentieth one and so on. Torrent is a new company and must grow annualy more than the market as a whole.

Check below the making off of the interview: