Link Holdings bought by niche pharma company Archimedes
pharmafile | December 1, 2006 | News story | Sales and Marketing |
Archimedes Pharma, a European niche pharma company specialising in nasal drug delivery systems, has bought the UK-based pharma group Link Holdings for a rumoured £25 million.
Link, based in Horsham, West Sussex, was formed 10 years ago and is forecast to achieve profits of around £16 million in 2006.
The company is well established in the selling and marketing of niche products in the UK, France and Germany.
The collaboration will bring Link's four marketed drugs into Archimedes portfolio:
Link's Gliadel is the world's first locally administered chemo drug for high-grade gliomas, a form of brain cancer, and is already available in four European countries. It is expected to be launched in a further four EU countries in the next 12 to 18 months.
Zomorph is a sustained-release morphine medication; Nozinan is another sustained-release morphine drug and Pabrinex is a high-potency formulation of vitamins B and C for the treatment of chronic alcoholism.
Launched in 2004, with backing from Warburg Pincus, Archimedes specialises in buying up small pharma companies or brands in Europe looking for new marketing opportunities.
Its main product is Nasalfent, a fentanyl citrate nasal spray, aimed at providing rapid relief for breakthrough cancer pain. The drug is currently in phase III trials and is expected to reach market in 2009.
It is estimated that up to 95% of cancer patients suffer sudden and unexpected episodes of intense pain that occur despite background pain medication. Archimedes believes its nasal drug delivery systems offer relief from breakthrough cancer pain more rapidly than oral drugs.
In addition to Nasalfent, Archimedes also has a number of other nasal delivery products in the pipeline.
Richard de Souza, chief executive of Archimedes Pharma, said: "The acquisition of Link fits perfectly with Archimedes' strategy of growing our commercial presence through the acquisition of pharmaceutical companies or products in Europe."
He added: "We gain a portfolio of specialist prescribed products that will generate immediate revenue and have considerable near and mid-term growth potential. We also gain a commercial organisation seeking a specialty pharma partner in Europe. This organisation will also provide the infrastructure for European marketing of our own lead product, Nasalfent."
