Servier BioInnovation: A global innovation engine to boost early-stage R&D through partnering
Servier is a unique company within the global biopharmaceutical sector in many ways. Operating internationally and entirely independent, Servier is governed by a non-profit foundation, with headquarters in Suresnes, France. Since opening the first laboratory in 1954 and treating over 100 million patients worldwide on a daily basis today, we have been committed to therapeutic progress to serve patient needs through innovation. We strive to provide future generations with a world where quality healthcare is available and accessible to all.
Research and Development have always been part of our DNA. Due to our independence, we are able to reinvest 25% of total revenue (excluding generics) into Research and Development, a comparatively high rate in the industry. Conducted by a dedicated and committed R&D workforce of 2,900 strong, our corporate growth is driven by our constant search for innovation in five therapeutic areas: oncology, cardiology, metabolism, immune-inflammation, and neurology; as well as by our activities in high-quality generics and biosimilars. We also offer eHealth and digital solutions beyond drug development through WeHealth Digital Medicine.
In today’s rapidly changing and ever-evolving global biomedical innovation ecosystem, collaboration and partnerships are key to R&D success to ensure the development of a sustainable pipeline of innovative new medicines. Having established a strong partnering track record over the last decade to fuel inorganic portfolio growth, we currently sustain 45 active international alliances and partnerships across our five therapeutic areas. Especially, physical proximity to key stakeholders in the world’s most innovative life sciences hubs is essential to forge the right relationships early on, which have the potential to transform into personal and mutual partnerships and strategic alliances at the right time.
To this end, we launched Servier BioInnovation in 2018 in two key markets for the Group: The United States (Cambridge, MA) and China (Beijing). Servier BioInnovation is a joint initiative between Servier Group Research and Development and Global Business Development, focused exclusively on preclinical and early clinical innovation by engaging key stakeholders, searching, evaluating and expediting business development activities in the world’s leading life science and biomedical research hubs. In addition, our teams are responsible for increasing the Group’s visibility and attracting talent. Our key stakeholders include world-class academic researchers and medical centers, technology transfer and development offices, non-profit foundations and patient advocacy organizations, company builders and entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and strategic biotechnology and pharma partners.
Servier BioInnovation’s flagship office is located in Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the core of this world-class innovation cluster. The United States is a key market for the Group, especially in the field of oncology, where we strengthened our presence through the acquisition of Shire Oncology in 2018 and entered the US commercial market. As such, we intend to establish a long-lasting position in this field with the objectives to treat even more patients with innovative medicines and to become a leading global player in the oncology domain in the US and beyond.
We are actively building the kinds of alliances that will bring solutions to patients and can accelerate access to therapies. Servier has several research alliances with US biotechnology and startup companies, pharmaceutical laboratories, scientific organizations and prestigious academic centers with our active partnership policy in the field, which includes Novartis, Amgen, Cellectis, Allogene Therapeutics, Pieris, LabCentral, MBC BioLabs, MIT and Harvard University, among others.
Together we are committed to drive therapeutic innovation forward through collaboration and co-creation. Patients are waiting!
If your curiosity has been sparked and you would like to learn more, please visit our partnering website at: https://servier.com/en/areas-of-expertise/partnering/ and click below to learn more about the largest digital life science partnering event worldwide BIO-Europe Spring®.
About the authors:
Christian Schubert currently serves as Global Head, External Innovation for Servier R&D and Director at Servier BioInnovation. Didier Landais currently serves as Global Head of Licensing at Servier BD&L and Managing Director of Servier BioInnovation.