Antonio Portela

The Board of Directors of Bial Group has appointed Antonio Portela as the new director of the company, replacing Luis Portela in this position. The latter has been appointed Chairman of the company, with non-executive responsibilities. After 32 years leading the company, Luis Portela feels that "these changes are aligned with BIAL's major goals for the coming decade, by guaranteeing continuity of our R&D projects and strengthening our international scope".

Antonio Portela has been Vice-President of BIAL in Spain and its International Director, being responsible for the expansion and entrance of BIAL Group in new countries.

BIAL reached Spain in 1998 and currently has 200 employees distributed in its R&D and production facilities, one of its offices being in Bilbao. As a matter of fact, the company began the construction of the new plant and R&D centre at the Bizkaia Technology Park, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2011. These new facilities will house the Group's allergic immunotherapy business unit.

Throughout the past years, BIAL has made an enormous effort to strengthen their research, culminating in the launching of their anti-epileptic Zebinix, the first Portuguese drug to be commercialised in several countries, such as Spain, where it will hit the market in February. The goals for this new decade include the launch of novel own research drugs, to strengthen their growth in Spain and internationalisation projects, especially in Europe.