Servier has officially opened its American headquarters, expanding its global footprint. Oncology treatment and care will be the immediate focus in the U.S., although plans for expansion to other therapeutic areas and patient communities are underway.
State and local officials joined Servier leadership from France and the U.S. in cutting the ribbon on the facility in Boston's new Innovation District in the Seaport, which already employs 100 professionals in marketing, business development, research and development and strategic support functions. That figure is projected to double within five years. Servier Group also established the first office of the Servier BioInnovation network in Boston, with a focus on external innovation and partnerships.
"We are delighted to welcome colleagues, friends, partners and the community to celebrate our entry into the United States," said Olivier Laureau, President, Servier Group, which is based in the Paris metropolitan area and is the second largest French pharmaceutical company. "We bring with us a rich uniqueness, and we are now able to bring our passion for innovation and our dedication to improving the lives of patients and caregivers to the U.S."
Subscribe to our e-Newsletters
Stay up to date with the latest news, articles, and events. Plus, get special offers
from American Pharmaceutical Review – all delivered right to your inbox! Sign up now!
"The addition of Servier to our Commonwealth will continue to bolster Massachusetts' reputation as a healthcare industry hub, while also enriching our community with additional jobs," said Timothy McGourthy, Deputy Secretary, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. "We applaud Servier's commitment to our state and welcome their rich history in research and academic excellence, which aligns well with our state's heritage in healthcare innovation. Together, the future looks ripe for further partnerships and collaborations with Boston's leading academic and research institutions as well as with our broad patient care community."
Servier began building its presence in the U.S. with its 2018 purchase of Shire's oncology franchise, including all marketed products, pipeline, and partnerships with leading U.S. pharmaceutical companies such as: Novartis, Allogene Therapeutics, Ipsen, MacroGenics and Symphogen. Servier also has long-standing partnerships with local academic institutions including, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others.
"We are here for the long term," said David K. Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "We chose Boston so we could benefit from being in one of the world's leading hubs for bioinnovation – both to tap cutting-edge expertise, as well as to work collaboratively with like-minded companies."
Servier is a privately held global company with $4.7 billion in annual sales and operates in 149 countries across four therapeutic areas beyond oncology, including cardiovascular, immune-inflammatory, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.
The company has plans for the introduction of ASPARLAS™ (calaspargase pegol-mknl) to the portfolio. Servier researchers in the U.S. collaborate with their global research and development colleagues on new approaches to tackling cancer. Currently, at least a dozen oncology projects are in clinical development worldwide.