Actelion

Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryPharmaceuticals/Biotech
Founded1997; 27 years ago (1997)
FoundersJean-Paul Clozel, Martine Clozel, Walter Fischli, André J. Müller and Thomas Widmann
HeadquartersGewerbestrasse 16,
Allschwil, Basel-Landschaft
,
Switzerland
Area served
Research and Development of medicines for unmet medical need
Key people
Jean-Paul Clozel (CEO)
ProductsTracleer, Ventavis, Zavesca, Veletri, Opsumit
RevenueCHF 2.412 billion (2016)[1]
CHF 992 million (2016)
Number of employees
2,624 (2016)
ParentJohnson & Johnson
Websiteactelion.com

Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is a pharmaceuticals and biotechnology company established in December 1997, headquartered in Allschwil near Basel, Switzerland.[2]

Actelion focuses on the manufacture of drugs that treat rare and orphan diseases. Some of the drugs it has produced have been used to treat patients with symptoms related to central nervous system disorders, irregular heart conditions, immune system disorders and cancer.[3] One of the focuses of Actelion is treating individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a heart condition that leaves patients with a short life expectancy (7–9 years) even with treatment.[4]

Actelion scientists were among the first to work in the field of endothelian receptor antagonists.[5] Actelion was initially financed with venture capital provided through a syndicate including Atlas Venture, Sofinnova and HealthCap.

Actelion develops and sells drugs in the continents of Asia, Europe and North and South America.[3] Actelion has 29 operative affiliates around the world, including in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Switzerland and a number of EU countries. The Swiss affiliate is located in Baden, the German affiliate in Freiburg, the Austrian one in Vienna, the French one in Paris and the UK affiliate is located in London.[6][failed verification]

In 2006, the company established the Actelion Endothelin Research Award program which supports selected clinical research projects.[citation needed]

In January 2017, Johnson & Johnson announced that it would purchase the company for $30 billion.[7] Actelion's research and development unit would also be spun off after the acquisition.[8] The new company Idorsia was created from former Actelion drug discovery operations and early-stage clinical development assets and listed in June 2017 on the SIX Swiss Exchange.[9]

In 2018, Johnson & Johnson announced they would discontinue development of one of the phase III drugs it acquired during its purchase of Actelion.[2]

  1. ^ "Acetelion Annual Business Report 2016" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b Taylor, Nick Paul (17 April 2018). "Johnson & Johnson scraps phase 3 antibiotic program acquired in $30B Actelion takeover". FierceBiotech. Framingham, Massachusetts: Questex. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Actelion Ltd SWOT Analysis". FIU Libraries. MarketLine: 3. 6 November 2018.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :32 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "ACTELION LTD-REG (ATLN:VX)". Bloomberg Businessweek (Stock Quote & Company Profile). Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Actelion affiliates". Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  7. ^ Roland, Denise; D. Rockoff, Jonathan (26 January 2017). "Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Actelion in $30 Billion Deal". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  8. ^ Miller, John; Arnold, Paul (26 January 2017). "Johnson & Johnson to buy Actelion for $30 billion, spin off R&D unit". Reuters. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  9. ^ Clozel, Jean-Paul. "About Idorsia history". www.idorsia.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.