Strong export sales helped Norbrook Laboratories, the Newry-based pharmaceutical group, grow its turnover by a record 20 per cent last year to £59.2 million sterling (€97 million), its latest annual results show.

The group, which is owned by Senator Edward Haughey, specialises primarily in veterinary medicines but more recently has developed a new business division that focuses on human pharmaceutical products and services.

Norbrook took a major step to augment its human pharmaceutical division last year when it acquired the Chemical Synthesis Research Division of Scotia Pharmaceuticals plc. Scotia Pharmaceutical is renowned for its development of molecules for the treatment of thyroid cancer. Norbrook has not disclosed any financial details concerning the acquisition of the research facility, which is based in Carlisle. Its latest end-of-year results for the 12 months to August 2001, however, show that the group grew its year-on-year profits by more than 70 per cent to £5 million last year.

Norbrook, with its headquarters in Newry, employs more than 700 people at its various production facilities and has outlined major expansion plans for the future.

The group, which also has production sites in Nairobi in Kenya and in Monaghan, recently acquired an additional 14-acre site in Newry, which has an 80,000 square feet factory on site.

The Newry-based group, which was established by Dr Haughey in 1969, is one of the largest producers of veterinary ethical sterile injectibles. It also produces a range of specialised medical products and has expanded into the chemical synthesis market.

It supplies products and services to nine of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies.

In recent years, Norbrook has also invested heavily to develop its own global brand and has established new distribution businesses in Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Uganda and Brazil to support its expansion ambitions.