Alexion Pharmaceuticals sets up European subsidiary
US company Alexion Pharmaceuticals has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Alexion Europe SAS. The Paris-based subsidiary will serve as the European headquarters and manage all late stage development, regulatory and commercial operations throughout Europe.
US company Alexion Pharmaceuticals has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Alexion Europe SAS. The Paris-based subsidiary will serve as the European headquarters and manage all late stage development, regulatory and commercial operations throughout Europe.
Patrice Coissac, former president of Pharmacia SAS, has been appointed general manager and president.
Coissac, has a broad international background in the pharmaceutical industry. Since mid 2003, he headed international pharmaceutical consulting firm BioPharmaConsult. While at Pharmacia, Coissac was responsible for the integration of Monsanto (Searle) with Pharmacia & Upjohn in France.
'The establishment of a European subsidiary is an important step as we focus on global development and prepare for the commercialisation of our first product, eculizumab, if and when approved for the chronic orphan blood disorder Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria,' said Dr Leonard Bell, ceo of Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Eculizumab is currently undergoing two Phase III trials.
In addition to Coissac, Alexion Europe will initially employ regulatory, medical and commercial professionals in France and in additional European coun-tries. The company expects the number of Alexion Europe employees to expand significantly if and when eculizumab is approved for marketing in Europe.