So far Pliva has done such studies in other centres, for example in Canada, at a cost much higher than will be the case at its own centre in Goa. Only five per cent of the 50 studies Pliva does annually could be done in Croatia, Covic said, adding that another reason for building the centre are expectations that the global generic drug industry will rise from the current USD40 billion to USD100 billion annually.
Covic also said that by opening its centre in Goa, with a relatively low investment expected to be paid back in two years, Pliva would improve the quality of its data in an environment with relatively cheap but highly expert services.