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Helsinn Healthcare SA

Helsinn announces the acquisition of Sapphire Therapeutics Inc., USA to establish Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc.

Lugano (ots)

Today the Swiss pharmaceutical group Helsinn
announced the acquisition, of the US biopharmaceutical company,
Sapphire Therapeutics Inc. with headquarters in Bridgewater, New
Jersey, for an undisclosed amount.
The establishment of a US-based R&D and commercial operation
represents attainment of one of the Helsinn Group's corporate
strategic goals. "We are thrilled at this very important opportunity
to increase Helsinn's value with a direct presence in the major
pharmaceutical market of the world", said Riccardo Braglia, CEO of
the Helsinn Group. "The acquisition of Sapphire Therapeutics will
also allow us to expand our current pipeline of products in existing,
focused therapeutic areas, in particular in Cancer Supportive Care.
This is a major step forward for the growth of Helsinn into the
future with the new subsidiary Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc.", he
concluded.
Sapphire Therapeutics Inc. was founded in 2000 and is focused on
developing first-in-class, composition-of-matter protected products
for the treatment of a variety of cancer, gastrointestinal and
metabolic conditions. "Sapphire Therapeutics Inc. and its staff have
proven pharma and biotech expertise and all of us are extremely
excited of becoming part of the Helsinn Group", commented William J.
Polvino, CEO of Sapphire Therapeutics (US) Inc. Helsinn has appointed
Franco De Vecchi, who is already a member of Helsinn Holding's Board,
to become Chairman and President of Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc. to
manage all of the existing staff who will be maintained and
strengthened.
This acquisition will give the Helsinn Group access to a very
interesting and promising pipeline of products:
  • anamorelin, a first-in-class therapy for the treatment of cancer cachexia, suitable for once-a-day oral administration, with early evidence of a rapid onset of beneficial effects (appetite, gain weight, quality of life) and a good safety and tolerability profile (end Phase II);
  • ipamorelin, for the i.v. treatment of post operative ileus, the impairment of bowel motility following surgery, an unmet medical need (Phase II);
  • ST-1141, a new oral compound, for the treatment of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (Phase I);
  • Other products at research stage.
The acquisition will have a direct, positive impact on the Helsinn
Group since the production of Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc. products
will be manufactured in Helsinn's high standard quality manufacturing
facilities in Switzerland which operate according to EU and FDA
health and environmental requirements.
About Helsinn Group
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with
headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland. Helsinn's unique business model
is focused on the licensing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in
therapeutic niche areas. The Group in-licenses early stage new
chemical entities, completes their development from the performance
of pre-clinical/clinical studies and Chemistry, Manufacturing and
Control (CMC) development, to the filing for and attainment of their
market approval worldwide.
Helsinn's products are sold directly, through the Group
subsidiaries, or eventually out-licensed to its network of local
marketing and commercial partners, selected for their deep in-market
knowledge and know-how, and assisted and supported with a full range
of product and scientific management services, including commercial,
regulatory, financial, legal and medical marketing advice. The active
pharmaceutical ingredients and the finished dosage forms are
manufactured at Helsinn's cGMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland,
and supplied worldwide to its customers.
Helsinn is the worldwide licensor of palonosetron, a second
generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, for the prevention of
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and of post-operative
nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients with cancer, and of the
original nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
distributed in more than 50 countries worldwide. Helsinn, with a
workforce of 430 employees in Switzerland and Ireland, reports an
expected 2008 turnover of over 279.5 million CHF, covering 75
countries worldwide, with over 20% of this turnover invested in R&D.

Contact:

Dr. Riccardo Braglia, CEO
Helsinn Healthcare SA, Switzerland
Phone: +41/91/985'21'21
E-Mail: PBO@helsinn.com

Plus de actualités: Helsinn Healthcare SA
Plus de actualités: Helsinn Healthcare SA