A Swiss-based integrated pharmaceutical development group

The privately owned Debio group, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, was founded in 1979 by Dr. Rolland-Yves Mauvernay out of the belief that many useful therapeutic products are discarded and therefore their full potential is never revealed. The group has grown from being a small pharmaceutical research center into a fully-fledged international company developing ethical pharmaceuticals. The Debio group comprises three synergistic companies, Debiopharm, Debio Recherche Pharmaceutique (Debio R.P.) and Debioclinic, which carries out integrated drug development from the technical and pre-clinical stages of a compound through to the compilation of registration files and obtainment of marketing authorizations both in the USA and in Europe.

The people behind the products

Some 250 people are employed in the Debio group worldwide - including Switzerland, France, China and North America. Across the board, the Debio staff has a high level of science education; its people come from all walks of science and the health care industry. 46% work in R&D, 17% are in production and some ten people are devoted to business development. Sixteen nationalities are represented within the group. In addition to its internal expertise, the Debio group also has an extensive international network of experts, allowing the group to tap into top-level scientific, development and business capabilities.

Technology overview

Debiopharm: a unique approach to drug development

Debiopharm focuses on active research for compounds to license in and to license out selectively to the best commercial partners. The company operates through partnerships with researchers, research institutions, pharmaceutical or biotech companies from whom a product is licensed-in for development. In addition to assuming the financial risk and the project management from compound to registration file and marketing authorization, Debiopharm also negotiates the licensing out of the molecule for marketing, ensuring that the originator of the project has a share in the profits.

Successful track record

Debio has developed several market leading drugs, including the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRHa), triptorelin, currently approved and commercialized in over 80 countries for the treatment of prostate cancer, endometriosis and precocious puberty. Decapeptyl® is a market leader in Southern Europe and has now been launched in the United States and Canada by Pharmacia Corp. as Trelstar®.

A third generation diamine-cyclohexane platinum complex, oxaliplatin, has been registered and commercialized in major European countries, Latin America and Asia for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Eloxatine® is marketed by Sanofi-Synthélabo.

Furthermore, a somatostatin analog, vapreotide, is being developed for the early treatment of cirrhosis-related variceal bleeding.

Debioclinic: clinical development, a key step

The clinical stage, i.e. the testing of products in both healthy volunteers and patients, is a key step in drug development and the Debio group includes its own clinical research organization, Debioclinic.

Based in Paris, France, Debioclinic has a particular expertise in conducting clinical trials in the field of oncology. Moreover, Debioclinic has the capabilities to manage pan-European clinical trials.

Debio R.P.: advanced drug delivery systems

Debio R.P., based in Martigny, Switzerland, focuses on advanced drug delivery systems (microspheres, microgranules, implants) that allow active principles to be delivered in controlled-release formulations. In addition to research and development laboratories, Debio R.P. houses an FDA-approved manufacturing site, currently under expansion.

Perspective

Future outlook

The Debio group’s current development portfolio consists of over ten projects and new proprietary technologies. With a strong intellectual property position, a balanced product portfolio and upcoming new opportunities in pharmacogenomics and advanced drug delivery systems, the company is confident that it will remain independent and profitable in the forthcoming years.

Existing Corporate Alliances

Debio does not commercialise the products it has developed, but licenses them out to commercial partners. These presently include : Sanofi-Synthélabo, Pharmacia, Beaufour Ipsen & Ferring, Dr. Reddy’s Research Lab and others.