Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall has issued a statement saying that the company will “reorganize” its European operations as a result of “economic driven decisions, made by country’s health authorities that have negatively affected the growth of those markets and the introduction and uptake of new products.” The press release does not specify what the reorganization will involve other than the fact that “it may affect 250 positions” in Spain.
The reorganization is necessary, the company said, “in order to optimize the potential of its portfolio of existing and new products.” In addition to respiratory drugs, Almirall has also been developing drugs for autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and dermatological diseases.
Almirall CEO Eduardo Sanchiz commented, “We have been investing heavily over the last few years to maximize the potential of our portfolio of new products. However these efforts are happening at a time of unprecedented challenges in our industry and in key markets for our company. We have growth opportunities ahead of us and we will only manage to achieve them if we rebalance our resources and focus our efforts there where we are in a better position to realize long term success.”
Almirall’s Tudorza Pressair aclidinium bromide dry powder inhaler was approved in the US in July 2012; the European version of the product known as Eklira or Bretaris Genuair was approved in Europe shortly thereafter. Eklira is now available in 17 countries and is Almirall’s top-selling product.
The company has three R&D centers in Europe, including an inhalation device center and a dermatology center in Germany, as well as a center outside of Barcelona. Almirall has affiliates in twelve European countries.
Read the Almirall press release.
