Almirall opens UK headquarters
pharmafile | May 27, 2009 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â AlmirallÂ
Spanish pharma company Almirall has opened its new UK and Ireland headquarters in West London's Stockley Park.
The site will be home to 50 staff who will work across a range of 14 mainly dermatology products, a portfolio Almirall plans to increase in the near future.
Almirall UK's official opening ceremony for the headquarters included a Spanish tapas-style reception for 100 guests, among them business secretary Peter Mandelson who welcomed the company to the UK.
"As the Government's strategy, 'Building Britain's Future', states we are committed to helping companies to invest in Britain as well as safeguard the jobs this investment supports", Lord Mandelson said.
Almirall's decision to expand here is a clear recognition of the UKs strengths as a modern, knowledge based economy, where we have the skills and regulatory environment to compete effectively in high-tech, high value sectors such as pharmaceuticals.
The UK is the world's fifth-largest pharma market and ranked third largest in Europe.
Almirall UK's new headquarters add to a European presence that already includes affiliate offices in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Portugal.
The Spanish pharma company's operations also span Austria, Switzerland and Poland through the 2007 acquisition of German dermatology specialist Hermal.
Almirall UK will cover the UK and Ireland markets and is headed up by general manager Carlos Gallardo.
"This is a tremendously exciting moment for Almirall as we continue to strengthen our direct presence in Europe," he said.
"Our new offices enable us to be well positioned for the growing market in the UK and Ireland, where I am confident we will be able to make an increasing contribution to the improved treatment of patients in the UK."
The company's product portfolio will include Solaraze (keratosis) and Vaniqa (facial hirsutism), both acquired from Shire, and former Hermal products Balneum (eczema and skin infections), Aknemicin (acne) and Curatoderm (psoriasis).
Almirall UK will also commercialise its parent companys pipeline products, including anti-inflammatory Preservex (aceclofenac) and migraine treatment Almogran (almotriptan).
Also in Almirall's pipeline is once-a-day long-acting beta agonist (LABA) LAS100977, for which the company is currently in discussion with potential development and marketing partners.
Asthma treatment LAS1009777 was recently shown to be safe with a clinically and statistically significant bronchodilator effect in phase IIa trials.
There is less positive news earlier this year for another respiratory product the company is developing, this time with Forest Laboratories. The companies development of aclidinium bromide was put back when US regulators demanded more information on the COPD treatment in March.
The partners now have a tentative US filing target for the product of late 2011/early 2012, having previously hoped to submit it to regulators at the end of this year or in early 2010.
Related articles:
Almirall expands its horizons
Niche markets, acquisitions and a COPD candidate are all part of the strategy for Spain's biggest pharma company to grow beyond its home market
3 July 2008
http://www.pharmafocus.com/cda/focusH/1,2109,22-0-0-JUL_2008-focus_feature_detail-0-492052,00.html
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