Three Latvian pharmaceutical companies want government support for building plant for producing Covid-19 vaccines

RIGA - Three Latvian pharmaceutical companies - Olainfarm, Grindex and Pharmidea - want to build a plant for producing Covid-19 vaccine with the state support, said Vitalijs Skrivelis, the board chairman of the Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Association and co-owner of Pharmidea, at the Saeima sustainable development committee meeting today.

In his words, Latvia's national economic development has slowed down due to Covid-19 restrictions, which have been introduced in order not to overload hospitals. However, looking forward, the pandemics might return. "It would be wise to be prepared," said Skrivelis.

"In respect to vaccination, we are lagging behind all European countries, we are short of vaccines. The three Latvia's leading companies Grindex, Olainfarm and Pharmidea have presented a proposal to the Economics Ministry that the time has come for Latvia to build its industrial lab and a plant that would be able to produce vaccines," said Skrivelis.

In his words, development of the plant would cost EUR 62-68 million. Skrivelis said that funding could come from a public and private partnership.