Management Report
Outlook
Research and Development RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Our R & D activities will continue to play a key role in securing the Group’s long-term growth through innovations and new therapies. We are concentrating our R & D on products for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney failure. Here, the emphasis will continue to be on dialysis membranes and dialysis machines.
Another focus is infusion and nutrition therapies and the development of IV drugs.
We are also concentrating on targeted development in the biotechnology sector, in the field of antibody therapies. Biotechnology research opens up possibilities for treating diseases which cannot be cured at present, and offers Fresenius potential for further growth with innovative cancer therapies. In February 2009, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion recommending approval of Removab® for the treatment of malignant ascites. Fresenius Biotech expects a possible market introduction of this product – subject to approval – in 2009.
We are planning to invest more in research and development in 2009 (on a comparable base, i.e. excluding in-process R & D activitities acquired from the APP acquisition). The increase should be higher than the expected organic growth rate in sales. The number of employees in research and development will also be increased.
Market-oriented research and development with strict time-to-market management processes is crucial for the success of new products.We continually review our R & D results using clearly defined milestones. Innovative ideas, product development, and therapies with a high level of quality will continue to be the basis for future market-leading products.
