A subsidiary of the Bayer drug empire is making its Central American headquarters in Costa Rica. Bayer Schering Pharma, the result of Bayer's 20 billion euro acquisition of fellow German drug giant Schering last year, is expected to begin operations here July 15.

Its offices will have about 60 employees – mostly from Schering's pre-acquisition operations here – handling marketing, accounting, administration and some after-market research.

“Costa Rica offers lots of advantages versus the other countries of Latin America,” said Dr. Gamal Mikhail, the new head of Central American operations for Bayer Schering Pharma. He noted the safety of the country, its many human resources and its “atmosphere of investment.”

Bayer Schering Pharma will concentrate its efforts on cancer drugs and men's and women's health products, Mikhail said. Bayer Schering Pharma also has a line of generic drugs, branded MK, that are manufactured in El Salvador.

Bayer – including all its divisions – grossed around US$400 million in sales in Central America last year, Mikhail said.