HRA Pharma opens UK subsidiary
pharmafile | July 3, 2009 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â HRA PharmaÂ
Privately-owned French drug maker HRA Pharma, which specialises in reproductive health and endocrinology, has opened its first UK subsidiary.
The move is in part driven by the UK's unwanted status as the unplanned pregnancy capital of Europe.
HRA Pharma UK will handle local marketing, sales and distribution of ellaOne, the company's new emergency contraceptive.
The brand was granted marketing authorisation in May and will be launched throughout Europe from September.
"The UK has the highest unplanned pregnancy rate in Europe and its government has been implementing strategies to address sexual health and teenage pregnancy," said HRA Pharma chief executive Erin Gainer.
"We felt it was imperative to create a local entity with skilled management to support ellaOne's upcoming launch."
She described the drug as "a complementary tool in this important public health endeavour".
Tony Fraser, former business unit director for Schering-Plough's UK-based substance misuse and virology division, has been appointed general manager.
Another of HRA's products, Lysodren, a treatment for advanced adrenal cortical carcinoma, will also come under his remit.
Available here since 2004, its distribution was previously handled from the company's Paris HQ.
HRA Pharma was founded in 1996 and its first product, the morning after pill NorLevo, was registered in France three years later.
In 2000 it was approved in Europe and is now available in 60 countries.
HRA moved into cell therapy in 2005 with the acquisition of French biopharma company Celogos, which specialises in developing treatments for muscle repair.
HRA's other European location is in Bochum, Germany, and it also has an office in New York, giving it a total of 60 staff.
The company says its turnover is nearly 30 million euros from 14 products and it has ten new drugs expected to reach the market before 2012.
Its three biggest sellers are Lysodren, NorLevo and another women's health product called Divina.
Milfedren, an orphan drug for ectopic Cushing's syndrome, is currently in phase III clinical trials.
In addition to drugs, the company also makes related products including Mona-Lisa, a copper intra-uterine device.
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