Research areas
Almirall is a company committed to research and development (R&D) of innovative medicines particularly in areas with unmet therapeutic needs.Almirall’s R&D strategy is based on creating research teams focussed on specific therapeutic targets. By concentrating efforts on certain areas it has been able to increase knowledge, and as a result, probabilities of success. The areas on which it focuses research are related to the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and other dermatologic conditions.
For example, there are many unmet needs for the treatment of COPD, including a poor number of therapeutic options for improving lung function and controlling exacerbations. In this regard, the respiratory area is progressing with two new molecules; Eklira (aclidinium bromide) a long-lasting antimuscarinic for the treatment of COPD which is in phase III, and the molecule LAS100977 (LAS is an acronym of Laboratorios Almirall Síntesis). It is a novel, long-lasting beta agonist in Phase II for the treatment of asthma and COPD, suitable to be administered once a day through inhalation). Another example is ''Sativex'' (a modulator of the endocannabinoid system, which is a medicine of vegetable origin whose formulation is basically a combination of two cannabinoids: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)), of which Almirall acquired the marketing rights in Europe (except United Kingdom), and which represents a step forward in the treatment of spasticity and multiple sclerosis and, therefore, is an interesting incorporation to Almirall’s central nervous system area. ''Sativex'' is under regulatory submission.
R&D activity
Almirall scientists have established a broad network of external collaborators in biology, chemistry and X-ray crystallography to help generate research programmes and access new technologies that may enable new research programmes to be generated and access to new technologies that may enable new drug- seeking processes to be speeded up .This network includes collaborations with universities, research centres and technology companies in Europe and the USA. Almirall also cultivates a close relationship with the academic world in Spain and encourages the emergency of local biotechnology companies. Examples of this is the prominent role of Almirall in the Genius Pharma project, a technological platform as well as Neogenius, a programme for the discovery and development of new painkilling medicines form patiens suffering from osteoarthritis, sponsored by the Spanish government.
Almirall collaborates in clinical development with private universities and hospitals in Europe, the USA and other countries.
In 2008, Almirall incorporated into the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a joint project between the European Union and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA, the European management of the pharmaceutical industry) to increase R&D in the pharmaceutical sector on a European level.
Research centres
To fully develop its R&D work, Almirall has infrastructures such as the R&D centre in Sant Feliu de Llobregat (Barcelona) inaugurated in 2006, which has a workforce of about 350 employees, including pharmacists, chemists, biologists, physicians and other highly qualified specialists. By housing the majority of the Almirall R&D structure under one roof, synergies can be fully exploited. Almirall also has two R&D units in the Barcelona area: Chemical Synthesis and Active ingredient scaling-up (it implies modifying the obtaining of a few grams of substance in the laboratory to adapt it to industrial equipment able to produce product quantities of tens or hundreds of kilograms).Moreover, Almirall also has a centre of excellence for inhalation technology, located in Bad Homburg (near Frankfurt, Germany), and made up of a team of technical experts in pharmaceutical innovation for the administration of medicinal products by inhalation. From here Almirall has patented a multiple dose dry powder inhaler (''Genuair'').
As a result of its acquisition of Hermal in August 2007, Almirall also has a team located in Reinbek (Germany) that focuses on dermatology R&D: the center of excellence in dermatology.
Adapted from the Wikipedia article Almirall, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
