Minister Lenihan performs official opening of Helsinn’s new R&D Centre of Excellence in Dublin

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 to ensure better management of our resources and flexibility to better serve our partners worldwide

Mr. Riccardo Braglia - Chief Executive Officer of the Helsinn Group

Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan T.D., today (Wednesday 1st September 2010) performed the official opening of the new R&D Centre of Excellence for Helsinn 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 treatment of emesis due to chemotherapy, and the novel ghrelin analogue Anamorelin for treatment of cachexia, involved an investment of €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, a privately owned pharmaceutical company, 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 and Development for Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) at the company’s Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals facility, which currently produces a range of drug products at its site at Mulhuddart, Dublin. 

Helsinn’s core business is the in-licensing of early to late-stage pharmaceutical compounds in therapeutic niche areas for development and subsequent commercial manufacture and distribution. The company is primarily active in oncology supportive care, anti-inflammatory and gastrointestinal treatments. 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.

Speaking at the official opening the Minister 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”.  

Helsinn’s Irish operation was established in 1990, when it acquired Birex Pharmaceuticals in Dublin. To-date Helsinn has invested a total of over €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 KleanPrep (pre-colonoscopy treatment).

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 to ensure better management of our resources and flexibility to better serve our partners worldwide.”

About Helsinn
Helsinn, a family owned company headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with subsidiaries in Ireland and USA, was established in 1976. Helsinn, with a workforce of around 450 employees in Switzerland, Ireland and USA, reported a 2009 turnover of over CHF 305 million (about EUR 232 million), covering 85 countries worldwide, with over 20% of this turnover invested in R&D. 

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.

For further information:

Helsinn -
Padraig Somers, General Manager, Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals. Tel: 01 - 8225404

Department of Finance –
Eoin Dorgan
Tel: 01-6045636

IDA Ireland –
Gillian Lawless,
Press & PR,
Tel : 01-6034095