Biotop-report 2014

Innovation for better health.

 Our commitment  

is to bring to patients around the world quality  

medicines for use in diag nosing, combating and 

preventing disease. Every day we work against time, 

researching new pathways, new molecules, new 

technologies – complementing our own capabilities 

with exper tise of innovative partners from science 

and industry. 

The success of this work is evidenced in new  

med­i­cines­for­areas­with­significant­unmet­medical­

need such as oncology, cardiovascular and blood 

diseases, as well as gynecology and ophthalmology. 

Our aim is a better quality of life for all.

You need commitment, focus and  

passion to find new ways to fight the  

diseases of this world: innovation  

is at the heart of it.

www.bayerhealthcare.com

www.bayerpharma.com

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16

BioTOPics 47 | May 2014 

BioTOP-Report

 Pharma 

The partnership between 

Sanofi and Charité that began in May 

2010 with a focus on the area of  stroke research has proven fruit-

ful. The partners have signed an agreement to a second joint 

research partnership, this time with a focus on diabetes. The 

scientists and clinicians of  both parties will also collaborate in a 

diabetes alliance in the future. The alliance aims to improve un-

derstanding of  the medical requirements and approaches to the 

disease of  diabetes and, in joint projects, to implement them as 

therapies and make them available to patients more quickly.

After the acquisition of  Nycomed in 2011, 

Takeda moved its Ger-

man headquarters to Berlin and took over the Oranienburg-based 

production plant. Oranienburg has a long tradition as a location for 

pharmaceuticals production. In the past 20 years, the plant there 

has expanded continuously. It now has a production capacity of  

7.6 billion pills and capsules per year – 98 percent of  which are 

exported worldwide. The Oranienburg facility is considered one 

of  the main competence centers within Takeda's global produc-

tion network. Takeda plans to expand the Oranienburg facility's 

production capacity within the next few years. 

An important new player, 

Teva Specialty Medicines, has recently 

set up business in Berlin. Newly founded Teva Specialty Medi-

cines is Teva Pharmaceuticals' Original Products division in Berlin. 

Its primary area of  success is neurology. Teva is the leader in 

generics in Germany and an expert in innovative brand business. 

At a January 2014 press conference in Berlin, 

Aristo Pharma pre-

sented a new formulation of  a proven drug for treating severe and 

extreme pain. The special formlulation was designed for targeted 

retardation and 24-hour continuous analgesia when taken once a 

day. Founded in 2008, the company belongs to a growing group 

of  German companies headquartered in Berlin. 

DR. KADE acquired Takeda’s OTC business for the German mar-

ket in April 2013. With this move, the traditional Berlin company 

has added well-known brands to its current OTC portfolio and 

made an investment in the future. In conjunction with the expan-

sion of  its OTC business, the company has added new employees 

in its Berlin and Constance locations. 

PharmaMar is a Spanish member of  the Zeltia Group, a leader in 

the development of  anti-tumor drugs of  marine origin. PharmaMar 

started its activities in Germany in 2007, when the EMA granted 

it marketing authorization for Yondelis

®

 in the treatment of  soft tis-

sue sarcomas. Two years later, Yondelis

®

 was approved for the 

treatment of  ovarian cancer. In 2013, the company established 

PharmaMar GmbH in Berlin. 

These current examples are only an indication of  the pharmaceu-

ticals industry activity in Berlin-Brandenburg – but they illustrate 

the extent to which the opportunities here are multi-faceted. They 

range from close partnerships with regional biotechnology start-

ups and partnerships with science to location expansion and 

inward investment. The range of  opportunities and the strategic 

options they generate make the Berlin-Brandenburg region highly 

attractive.

Dr. Hans-Christian Meyer

Site Manager 

Takeda Plant Oranienburg

Pharmaceutical development and production has a long tradi-

tion in the area of  Berlin-Brandenburg. The roots of  our pro-

duction plant in Oranienburg trace back to the 19th century. 

Today, our site plays a pivotal role as a competence center for 

solid forms such as tablets and capsules within the worldwide 

pharmaceutical production network of  Takeda. The support 

of  the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg helps us to 

further expand production capabilities, be prepared for future 

growth and create new jobs.

Alfonso Casal

CEO 

PharmaMar GmbH

Our presence in Germany, the European State Member with 

the largest population in the EU and strong research capa-

bilities is an important step in our European expansion. From 

our offices in Berlin we coordinate our commercial operations 

as well as supporting other corporate activities in Germany. 

Berlin as Capital city, with important competence centers for 

the treatment of  cancer and strong international orientation 

represents a very good opportunity for the development of  our 

activities.

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