Our history

1975
The Origins of Sicor Biotech UAB. Shortly after biotech research started throughout the world, the State Research Institute of Applied Enzymology was founded in Vilnius. The Institute quickly became a leader in the field of classical fermentation technology research. The name of the Institute changed several times (the current name is the Institute of Biotechnology); in 1983 the focus of the Institute's activities shifted to development and practical application of gene engineering methods. Under certain economical conditions, the extensive experience of the Institute was successfully applied for the foundation of Biofa AB (1994) and Fermentas AB (1995) biotech companies.

1977
Foundation of Restriction and Modification Enzyme Department. It was the only supplier of restriction endonucleases in the former Soviet Union. This Department was a basis upon which MBI Fermentas AB (currently Fermentas UAB) was subsequently founded.

1984
Foundation of the Department of Recombinant Pharmaceutical Preparations, start of development of first technologies for production of human recombinant proteins. This Department was a basis upon which Biofa AB, subsequently Biotechna UAB (Sicor Biotech UAB), was founded.

1989
Development of Reaferon (recombinant human interferon alfa-2b), the first recombinant biopharmaceutical  in the former Soviet Union, Eastern and Middle Europe and the fifth such bioharmaceutical in the world.

1992
Foundation of Hualida Biological Engineering Co., Ltd., a joint venture in Tiandzin (China) based on interferon alpha-2b production technology developed at Biofa AB.

1994
Registration of Somatogen-L, a recombinant human growth hormone, in Lithuania.

1999
With the help of foreign investment, Biofa AB is reorganised into Biotechna UAB. The activities remain the same while the additional potential for development allows a qualitative transformation.

2000
Commissioning of a new biotech plant compliant with the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in Vilnius.

2001
Biotechna UAB becomes a part of a group of companies belonging to Sicor Inc., an international pharma company.

2002
The name of Biotechna UAB is changed to Sicor Biotech UAB.

2003
Registration of Grasalva (Filgrastim) drug product in Lithuania.

2004
Sicor Biotech UAB becomes a part of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, an international pharma company. The companies of the group produce generic and patented drug products as well as active ingredients of various medicine formulations. Currently Teva, the group of pharma companies, operates in over 60 countries throughout the world and has offices of its companies in the Americas, Asia, Africa, India, and Israel. The companies of the group employ about 38 thousand people. The Teva corporation is among the top twenty of the world's largest pharma companies and is a global leader in the production of generic drug products, leaving all of its competitors far behind.

2006
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., an Israeli pharma company, acquires IVAX Pharmaceutical, a pharma company.

2007
Sicor Biotech UAB establishes its Latvian and Estonian branches.

2008
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd acquires Barr/Pliva.

2009
Sicor Biotech UAB celebrates its ten-year anniversary.