News

September 2011

Gerolymatos International proudly announces the launch of Sinomarin^® in the People’s Republic of China.

Following a long and complex registration process, Gerolymatos International launched Sinomarin®, its premium 100% natural, hypertonic seawater decongestant brand, in China.

 

Sinomarin® was presented to key opinion leaders of the ENT and pediatric communities in the 3 largest Chinese cities, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, by distinguished European and Chinese speakers.

Already present in a number of South East Asian markets and handled by the company’s local affiliate company based in Hong Kong, Gerolymatos International foresees a great future for Sinomarin® in China, since the products are particularly well accepted by the international and local scientific community.

 

 

August 2011

Gerolymatos International and Ferrer join forces to launch Sinomarin® in various markets in North Africa and the Middle East.

Gerolymatos International, a leading Greek multinational, OTC pharmaceutical and cosmetics company, has granted Ferrer, one of the top Spanish R&D-based pharmaceutical companies, the exclusive distribution rights to market Sinomarin®, a hypertonic sea water family of products, in Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Pakistan and Malta. This collaboration reinforces Gerolymatos International’s global presence with Sinomarin® and complements Ferrer’s portfolio, worldwide distribution network and international profile. This strategic alliance is expected to generate a significant turnover for both companies in the next few years.

Sinomarin® is a hypertonic seawater solution used for the decongestion and cleansing of nasal cavities that was initially developed and marketed in France, but soon expanded to 36 countries globally, including USA, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The seawater is derived from a fully-owned seawater source at Cancale, near Saint Malo, France and is manufactured at Gerolymatos International's facilities located in Athens, Greece. Sinomarin® is a CE-Mark-bearing medical device and holds a patent in a number of key territories. It is a cohesive family of hypertonic products comprising an adult spray, a children’s spray, a mini spray and monodose vials for infants and toddlers. Additional products are currently being developed to further expand the existing Sinomarin® brand within the next few months.

Gerolymatos International S.A. has been associated with the health care and beauty industry since 1923 when the founder opened a pharmacy in the centre of Athens. The company swiftly grew in size and began its export activities in the 1970s and since then, it has continuously expanded its international network to over 50 countries through partnerships and affiliates across the five continents. Today, Gerolymatos International is a major global player in the field of natural seawater-based products such as Sinomarin® and a well established player in OTC pharmaceutical products.

Ferrer was founded in 1959 and is a privately-held Spanish pharmaceutical company, fully integrated from R&D to distribution. It is present in more than 90 countries and has 23 international affiliates. Ferrer is active in the pharmaceutical, health, fine chemicals and food sectors, key areas for contributing to people’s health and quality of life. Since the beginning, Ferrer has been committed to the research and development of innovative medicinal products in its six R&D centres and to a solid industrial structure, with thirteen manufacturing centers. In recent years, it has concentrated on diversifying across the whole healthcare spectrum and setting-up and consolidating strategic alliances. The result has been a significant globalization of its activities, backed up by an efficient management of regulatory affairs, with more than 1300 active registrations worldwide.

                              

 

May 2011

Gerolymatos International attended the PLMA – the world’s largest exhibition on Private Label, on 23-24/5 in Amsterdam. This was the first exhibition of this kind that Gerolymatos International attended and received remarkable interest from reputable Companies around the world on a number of its product propositions.

The booth, simple, clear and inviting, with two specially designed aquariums –inspired by the company’s seawater ranges for nasal decongestion and hygiene- became the real show-stoppers of the exhibition.



May 2011

Gerolymatos International proudly announces that the National Guard of the Royal Army of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia uses Sinomarin, for natural and effective Nasal Decongestion.

December 2010

A note from the President of Gerolymatos International, Mr. Nicholas Gerolymatos.

PN Gerolymatos SA, a family-owned company, was one of the most traditional, historical and well-esteemed businesses in the Greek healthcare industry.

In recent years, a series of developments and changes have occurred that have marked that history of the company. I would like to take this opportunity and share them with you.

The history of the Gerolymatos family business dates back to 1923, when my grandfather, Nikolaos Gerolymatos, established one of the largest pharmacies in down-town Athens. Twenty-one years later, in 1944, the pharmacy was burned to ashes. As a consequence, my late father Panagiotis (Takis) Gerolymatos, was compelled to become an entrepreneur. Under his leadership and his relentless drive for growth and development, the company which in 1955 had just three employees, in 2008, evolved into a business with 1.100 employees, a turnover of 300 million euro and a leader in numerous areas in the health and beauty industry, both in Greece as well as in international markets.

It was at the end of 2008 that bigger changes begun. In October 2008, all activities associated with only the Greek operations were divested to Alapis S.A., a listed Greek company. A few months later, in May 2009, the company’s founder, a charismatic and visionary leader –my father- passed away.

2009, was a year committed to the restructuring of the operations, both local and international, that were not divested. As part of this reorganization, Harry Balanos has recently been recruited as the new CEO of the company, while I remain the President of Gerolymatos International. Harry Balanos, who is a Chemistry graduate and holds an MBA, has had both extensive entrepreneurial and multinational experience. His previous position as Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe for Omega Pharma –a listed Belgian OTC company– has given him significant multinational experience at top management level. I have known Harry for a number of years and I know that he shares my aspirations, that is, to achieve rapid yet manageable growth, exploit opportunities while maintaining focus on strategy, combining entrepreneurial flexibility with sound corporate governance.

Myself -3rd generation Gerolymatos- together with Harry and the new management, carry together, and will safeguard as our most valuable asset, the values and principles that made the company remarkably successful in the past.