“Greece has a pool of highly trained scientists, doctors and researchers, many with valuable international experience, while universities and clinical centers are well-integrated into European research networks, making the country an attractive destination for multinational clinical trials,” says Bill Anderson, chairman of the Board of Management of the German multinational pharmaceutical giant, Bayer AG.

“Greece is not only an important market, which we’ve been supporting for 70 years, working closely with local companies like K&N Efthymiadis, but it’s also a contributor to our global innovation engine – for the development of medicines, as well as new crop protection products, seeds, and digital solutions to support farmers,” he tells Kathimerini.

Anderson was in Athens this week for the 90th anniversary event of Efthymiadis Agrotechnology, a strategic partner, where he was the keynote speaker. During his visit, he also met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “For Bayer, Greece is an integral part of our international clinical trials program,” said the head of the German group. Regarding the sector’s global prospects, he sees growth in areas of life extension and quality of life, which “remain at the core of our mission.”

He also expressed confidence that “AI will accelerate discovery, including in the so-called ‘undruggable’ space, while cell therapies and gene therapies open entirely new frontiers.”

He believes that “Greek agriculture has the potential to excel in producing high-quality, sustainable products that meet both domestic and international demand.” However, he remains cautious about a Europe-wide overhaul of the industry’s regulatory framework, and emphasized the need “to rethink how we value innovation and to establish a legislative framework that provides predictability for investors, incentives for innovation, and practical pathways for faster patient access.”

How important is your Greek subsidiary to your group? 

We have a long and proud history in Greece since 1955, and our subsidiary here is an integral part of the group’s global operations. Greece is not only an important market, which we’ve been supporting for 70 years, working closely with local companies like K&N Efthymiadis, but it’s also a contributor to our global innovation engine – for the development of medicines just as well as new crop protection products, seeds, and digital solutions to support farmers. So all in all, Bayer in Greece is much more than a commercial affiliate – it is a strategic partner for the group’s ambitions in health and agriculture worldwide.

Could Greece further develop pharmaceutical research, development and production – and under what conditions?

Boosting R&D is something that the EU should do collectively by developing a world-leading regulatory framework conducive to innovation, to reignite Europe’s life sciences ecosystem. Greece can and should play an important role in this, similar to other initiatives that the country has taken at EU level. We know that Greece has a pool of highly trained scientists, doctors and researchers, many with international experience. Universities and clinical centers are well integrated into European research networks, making Greece attractive for multinational trials. For Bayer, Greece is an integral part for our international clinical trials program. During the period 2022-2025, Bayer supported 18 interventional Phase II and III clinical trials in Greece, at 130 research centers. The clinical studies were mostly conducted at public hospitals in the country, providing access to innovative treatments for over 1,600 patients with cardiovascular, neurological, nephrological, oncological, ophthalmological and gynecological diseases.

Which areas do you see as having the greatest growth potential within the industry? Are life-extending therapies among them?

We see the greatest growth in areas of high-unmet need, particularly in cardiovascular disease, oncology, and Parkinson’s disease, where extending lives and improving quality of life remains at the core of our mission. AI will accelerate discovery, including in the so-called “undruggable” space, while cell therapies and gene therapies open entirely new frontiers in how we treat and potentially transform these diseases.

In the new international geo-economic environment shaped by tariff policies and the rise of major Asian economies such as India and China, what is your group’s strategy?

Indeed, we are experiencing major geopolitical and geo-economical shifts – and I wouldn’t limit this to new tariff regimes, or the role of Asian economies. The global order is entering a fragmented multilateral setting. Countries like Brazil, India, Indonesia or South Africa are gaining more influential seats at the table. The decreasing availability of resources in the face of mounting pressures through climate change and growing demographic disbalances are another important development. This demands that multinational companies like ours act strategically: setting up geopolitical risk and management capacities; diversifying supply chains, procurement structures and production networks; adapting growth strategies to this fragmented world; investing in sustainable innovation; active dialogue with governments in relevant markets. In a fast-paced world, it’s essential that companies act dynamically and fast without being tangled up in bureaucracy – a route we entered at Bayer two years ago. 

Agriculture in Greece remains vital both economically and culturally. Looking forward, what are the key factors needed to enhance the sustainability and quality of agriculture in Greece?

Agriculture in Greece has the potential to excel in producing high-quality, sustainable produce that meets both domestic and international demand. To harness this potential, it is crucial to support the development and application of innovations that can ensure Greek farmers are environmentally, socially and financially sustainable. Establishing a long-term vision that encourages investment and facilitates the faster adoption of innovative practices will be key to transforming the sector. Additionally, active support for farmer training programs will be essential in facilitating a more successful adoption of new technologies, ultimately leading to a more resilient and prosperous agricultural landscape in Greece.

How competitive is the European pharmaceutical industry at an international level? Are there regulatory or other obstacles to its further development?

This is a critical time for the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. While we have great science, talent and innovation, there is no doubt that Europe is falling behind in pharmaceutical competitiveness. We must take action now to strengthen Europe’s capacity to discover, develop and deliver the next generation of medicines. That requires rethinking how we value innovation, and a legislative framework that provides predictability for investors, incentives for innovation, and practical pathways for faster patient access.

How does Bayer plan to support the future of agriculture in Greece?

Bayer Hellas maintains a leadership role in the Greek agricultural sector. We are an innovation-driven company and support Greek farmers with solutions that help them secure yields more sustainably in the face of increasing challenges through climate change. Let me name some examples: In the next few years, we will be bringing a totally new variety of corn to Greece. We call it Preceon Smart Corn, and what you immediately notice about it is that it’s about a third shorter than traditional corn you are used to! This means it’s more resistant against heavy winds, it can be planted more densely and delivers a superior yield. It’s a complete game-changer in how we approach corn cultivation. Secondly, we recently submitted a registration application for our herbicide Icafolin in the European Union. Icafolin is part of a new class of chemicals. It allows for lower dose rates and more targeted application, and it demonstrates an exceptional safety and sustainability profile. It is a complement to existing herbicides – that’s important, because agriculture is dynamic. Weeds develop resistances, so farmers always need new tools in their toolbox. Additionally, we develop and offer digital solutions, customized for Greek farmers, like Nematool and ResiYou digital platforms for fruit and vegetables, that support growers and other stakeholders in the food value chain to take the right decisions, on and beyond the farm. 

Source: Ekathimerini.com