December the 17th, 2021 - The well known Rijeka JGL pharmaceutical company has been busy developing an innovative cold spray which various substances targetting rhinovirus, the predominant cause of colds in humans, which haven't ever been used before.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, the Rijeka JGL pharmaceutical company has teamed up in a partnership with the Centre for Proteomics of the Medical Faculty in Rijeka and with the scientific support of Biosens from Zagreb. This togetherness has resulted in the developing of an innovative ''Rino'' cold spray, with substances that have never been used in nasal sprays previously. The total value of the project stands at a massive 34.9 million kuna, and it is being co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund in the amount of 13.87 million kuna.

"This is a step forward for our company, since for the first time we're developing the product from the very beginning with substances that haven't been used in nasal sprays before, and which contribute to reducing the symptoms and progression of colds caused by rhinovirus, which is why we called it Rino spray. The project is also important because, as part of the strategy of ''smart specialisation'' of the Republic of Croatia, the thematic priority area "Health and Quality of Life" was chosen as one of the five key areas for the development of the Croatian economy.

With this project, we want to strengthen the position of our country, position ourselves as a European centre for the development and production of innovative health products through cooperation between production and research capacities of the private and public sector,'' said Masa Safundzic Kucuk, the director of research and development at the Rijeka JGL pharmaceutical company who is also the project manager. She also said that thanks to the help of the aforementioned fund, such projects don't put much pressure on the company's normal operations.

In-vitro product concept validation activities are underway to prove its safety and effectiveness, and experts from JGL and the Rijeka Medical Faculty are hoping for a roaring success in their product which will target the pesky rhinovirus, which is all too common of a bedfellow in winter.

"A team of scientists from the Centre for Proteomics of the Medical Faculty in Rijeka has been conducting scientific research in the field of immunology, virology, as well as research of new vector vaccines and immunotherapeutics, it's also participating in numerous national and international scientific projects with ambitious biotech and pharmaceutical companies like JGL. I'm convinced that the continuation of cooperation between the Faculty of Medicine and the Rijeka JGL pharmaceutical company on projects like this, as well as the expansion of cooperation in the direction of developing new immunotherapeutics will be of strategic interest to both partners.

Achieving this goal requires not only new investments through joint projects but also a vision of development based on the use of basic research results in creating new therapies or medical procedures,'' said Stipan Jonjic, head of the Department of Histology and Embryology and head of the Centre for Proteomics at the Medical Faculty of the University of Rijeka.

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ZAGREB, Dec 14, 2020 - Despite a decrease in consumer buying power caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Jadran Galenski Laboratorij (JGL) pharmaceutical company has employed 85 new workers and ensured an investment of HRK 373 million, JGL said on Monday.

JGL executive director Mislav Vucic has said that he is proud of the results achieved in the current challenging times thanks to a quality strategy, operational flexibility and enormous enthusiasm and commitment by JGL employees in Croatia and other markets.

He added that maintaining the system's stability enabled solidarity towards the local and broader social community throughout the entire year.

Vucic underscored that the company would continue with its strategic projects in 2021, investing in its brands, markets and technology.

Recently JLG signed a contract with the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) for the Integra 2020 project, valued at HRK 373 million, which will enable it to step out onto the international market.

The company plans to invest in sterile pharmaceutical production, R&D, a new pilot plant and a robotised logistics-distribution centre. The project is expected to increase capacities for the production of sterile pharmaceutical solutions by 60% and integrate the research and quality process at a single location in Rijeka.

The project will enable JGL to continue producing the sterile ophtalmic preparations of its strategic partner from Poland in Croatia and continue exporting medicines produced in Croatia to Poland and other markets. This way, the company is strengthening its and the national pharmaceutical industry's export capacities.

Vucic said that the crisis caused by the pandemic would certainly have a major impact on the economy but it had also once again pointed out the significance of having a strong industry based on highly sophisticated technology.

"That is why we consider Integra 2020 to be a capital project that will position us even more strongly on the global pharmaceutical map and enable us to produce an additional 41 million sterile sprays, eye drops and BoV (Bag on Valve) products, intended primarily for export. Thanks to this investment, we are significantly raising the company's development-technological competencies and its global competitiveness," said Vucic.

The Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency has been allocated funds in the total amount of 269 million kuna for the projects of 77 Croatian companies.

Rijeka's JGL, in cooperation with its partner company, Favorex, has successfully launched its most distinctive brand ''Aqua Maris'' on the far away Filipino market.

The company is expanding to the European Union, Middle East and Southeast Asia.