Aclidinium, chosen as one of the best Spanish therapeutic innovations with an international reach

• The Cotec Foundation has launched an initiative aimed at presenting and disseminating the level of research in Spain through a collection of monographs entitled "The Excellence of Spanish Technology".
 
• The first in the collection is entitled "Aclidinium, an international therapeutic innovation".
 
• Aclidinium, researched and developed by Almirall and approved by regulatory agencies in the United States (FDA) and Europe (EMA), is being marketed in Spain under the brand name Eklira^®Genuair^®.  The medicine provides around-the-clock symptom control in COPD treatment.

Barcelona, 4 October 2013.- The Cotec Foundation has instigated an initiative for presenting and disseminating the level of research in Spain through a collection of monographs entitled "The Excellence of Spanish Technology", selecting Indra, Talgo and Almirall as examples of innovative companies.   

The first in the collection, entitled "Aclidinium, an international therapeutic innovation ", has been edited and is ready to go out across Spain. 

Aclidinium is a novel, long-acting, inhaled muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) developed and commercialised by Almirall. It has been approved in Europe and the United States as maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve COPD symptoms in adult patients, providing significant and maintained bronchodilation from the very first dose.^[i],[ii]

Aclidinium provides around-the-clock symptom control^[iii], which leads to early-morning, day and night-time relief of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) symptoms such as breathlessness, cough and phlegm .^{[iv],[v],[vi]}Aclidinium also provides a clinically significant improvement in quality of life and shortness of breath^viii  compared to placebo.

Almirall, research and development

For over forty years research has been part of Almirall's essence, as a sign of our commitment to developing new medicines that will help treat future disease.  

In 2012 Almirall invested around € 160 MM in R&D, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year. These data place the company as the leading pharma company in R&D investment in Spain and the third top out of all sectors in allocating resources.  

This commitment to research led to 59% of income coming from proprietary medicines in 2012.

Human resources devoted to R&D totalled 20% of the workforce at the end of 2012.

Almirall's 500 or so scientists and technicians play a fundamental role in all phases, from research and development processes to registration filing in order to be granted marketing authorisation.

"In Almirall we are convinced that our commitment to R&D has been the right decision for the company and for patients, who are the fundamental beneficiaries of our research efforts",stated the President of the Spanish pharma company.

Dr. Jorge Gallardo also underlined that "is an honour to receive this recognition from the Cotec Foundation, as it demonstrates our firm belief that R&D investment is the mainstay in the search for excellence".

Cotec Foundation

In 1990, in response to a suggestion by HRH the King, a group of entrepreneurs decided to create a business organisation with a view to promoting technological innovation and increasing society's awareness of technology.

This goal, of fundamental importance in improving competitiveness, has been at the forefront of that project, which adopted the legal status of Foundation in October 1992. Today, Cotec is well-rooted mature organisation with its sights set on the future.

Its wholly private and indisputable business origins, the number and importance of the institutions and companies which have joined the initial project and, especially, the invaluable support received from the very beginning from the Crown, make Cotec a special organisation and, in a certain sense, unique among countries like ours.  

Almirall  

Almirall is a pharmaceutical company committed to providing valuable medicines through our own R&D efforts, which exceeded 23 per cent of sales in 2012, together with external partnerships, licenses and collaborations. We seek to provide innovative medicines to treat respiratory and dermatology diseases, with a strong interest in gastroenterology and pain. With more than 3000 employees in 22 countries, Almirall generated total revenues that exceeded 1 billion dollars in 2012.

The company was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. The stock is traded on the Spanish stock exchange (ticker: ALM).

For more information please visit: www.almirall.com

More information:

Ketchum

Sonia Sansegundo / Alejandra Ríos

sonia.sansegundo@ketchum.com / alejandra.rios@ketchum.com

Phone: +34 917883200

 

 

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