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Helsinn Healthcare SA

Helsinn announces the offical opening of its new R&D Centre of Excellence in Dublin

Lugano (ots)

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D.
today performed the official opening of the centre which will play a 
significant role in Helsinn group's pipeline of new products.
The Swiss pharmaceutical group Helsinn announced the official 
opening, performed today by the Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian 
Lenihan T.D, of its new R&D Centre of Excellence in Mulhuddart, Co. 
Dublin. The centre, which will play a significant role in Helsinn 
Group's pipeline of new products including the NK-1 inhibitor 
Netupitant for the treatment of emesis due to chemotherapy, and the 
novel ghrelin analogue Anamorelin for the treatment of cachexia, 
involved an investment of Euro 13 million, supported by the Irish 
Government through IDA Ireland. The investment is expected to create 
up to 10 high-value research positions over the next few years.
Helsinn announced its plans to establish the facility in April 
2009, and following a successful construction phase the plant is now 
ready to commence operations. The centre will be responsible for 
Research & Development for Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) at the company's 
Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals facility at Mulhuddart, Dublin, which 
currently produces a range of drug products.
The investment is part of Helsinn's strategic decision to 
strengthen its in-house development capability enabling better 
control of cost and time in bringing new therapies to patients 
worldwide.
During the official opening Mr. Riccardo Braglia, Chief Executive 
Officer of the Helsinn Group said, "Helsinn is pleased to confirm the
completion of this investment in our R&D Centre on time and in budget
which will be of significant benefit for the future of our 
international business, by centralising the development and 
commercialisation of Oral Solid Dosage products for better management
of our resources and flexibility to better serve our partners 
worldwide".
Helsinn's Irish operation was established in 1990, when it 
acquired Birex Pharmaceuticals in Dublin. To-date Helsinn has 
invested a total of over Euro 60 million in Ireland and continuously 
invests in its plants in order to maintain high quality and safety, 
to increase overall production capacity and to offer its partners 
up-to-date products, technologies and services. It now employs a 
total of 145 people at its Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals facility 
from which it supplies global markets with a range of products 
including its highly successful product Palonosetron which is 
effective for treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, 
as well as Nimesulide (anti-inflammatory) and Klean-Prep® 
(pre-colonoscopy treatment).
The Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan said, "I am delighted 
to officially open Helsinn's Centre of Excellence in Dublin today. 
This investment is highly significant for Ireland as it places 
Helsinn's Irish operation at the centre of Helsinn Group's worldwide 
R&D operations. The Irish Centre of Knowledge and Learning for OSD 
products will play a pivotal role in facilitating the growth of 
Helsinn's worldwide business by acting as a launch site for new 
products within its portfolio. This investment is a further 
endorsement of Ireland as a prime location for highly innovative 
companies carrying out key strategic activities".
About the Helsinn Group
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with 
headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland and subsidiaries in Ireland and 
USA. Helsinn's unique business model is focused on the licensing of 
pharmaceuticals and medical devices in therapeutic niche areas. The 
Group in-licenses early to late 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 alternatively 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) in patients with 
cancer and of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and of the 
original nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) 
distributed in more than 50 countries worldwide. Helsinn, with a 
workforce of around 450 employees in Switzerland, Ireland and USA, 
reported a 2009 turnover of over CHF 305.0 million (about EUR 232.0 
million at the current conversion exchange rate), covering 85 
countries worldwide, with over 20% of this turnover invested in R&D.
For more information on the Helsinn Group please visit the 
website: www.helsinn.com
About Helsinn in Ireland
Helsinn has operated in Ireland since 1990 and its Irish 
manufacturing facilities are EU certified for manufacture of 
pharmaceutical products and were successfully inspected by the US 
Food and Drug Administration earlier this year. The company 
manufactures and packages the group's products in compliance with EU,
US FDA and all major international health and environmental 
requirements, thus guaranteeing Helsinn's clients the highest 
possible assurance of quality and reliability.

Contact:

Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Padraig Somers, General Manager
Tel.: +353/1-822-5404
E-Mail: info-HBP@helsinn.com

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Plus de actualités: Helsinn Healthcare SA