Almirall partners with the Chemical Institute of Sarrià (IQS) to bring pharmacy students’ training closer to real industry

Barcelona (Spain), October 13, 2022.- Almirall S.A. (BME: ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health, and the Chemical Institute of Sarria (IQS), educational institution, founding member of the Ramon Llull University (URL) of Barcelona, have announced a collaboration agreement that will allow students in the third year of the Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy URL (IQS – Blanquerna) to carry out for the first time an internship in industrial facilities which meet the real requirements of the industry. The internships will begin in the second term of the 22-23 academic year.

"We are excited to be pioneers in collaborating with institutions such as IQS, a benchmark in science education, and to offer students the opportunity to experience the actual manufacturing process of a drug, which involves a series of procedures and regulations that are difficult to find in the academic environment", said Dr. Karl Ziegelbauer, Chief Scientific Officer of Almirall, who added: "This agreement stems from our desire to open our doors to innovation and share our knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry".

For his part, Dr. Salvador Borrós, general director of IQS, said: "the practical dimension has always been one of the characteristics of IQS's teaching methodology and this agreement reinforces the institution's commitment to training in which innovation and the close relationship between IQS and companies are very present".

The collaboration establishes the use by students of Pharmacy URL (IQS-Blanquerna) of Almirall's facilities and technologies in its manufacturing area in St. Feliu de Llobregat (Barcelona). The students, who will be completing the internship as a complement to the Pharmaceutical Technology subject, will learn aspects such as the impact on the pharmaceutical form, the different production equipment, the production process, and batch size, among others. In addition, they will also receive training on manufacturing regulations in production environments, which is essential for accessing Almirall's facilities and complying with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification.

Almirall's Sant Feliu de Llobregat (Barcelona) centre, inaugurated in 2006, is the company's R&D centre of reference and currently has 7,400 square metres of fully equipped laboratories and production area. This agreement is the first example of the willing of Almirall to offer its facilities to other scientists, biotech and academic institutions and to foster an ecosystem of cutting-edge innovation.

About the URL Degree in Pharmacy (IQS-Blanquerna)

The URL's Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy, taught jointly by IQS and Blanquerna, provides a solid knowledge base in Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Industry. It offers four possible curricular mentions, unique in Catalonia, Spain, and its students dedicate more than 1200 hours of laboratory and simulation practice. The URL (IQS-Blanquerna) Pharmacy degree combines a methodology based on direct contact with the professional world, scientific rigour and a commitment to offering ethical and comprehensive training.

About Almirall

Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patient’s needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: “Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life”. We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients in need.
The company, founded in 1943 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 79-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Currently, Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2021 were 836.5 million euros.

About IQS

IQS, a founding member of the Universitat Ramon Llull, is currently made up of two university faculties: IQS School of Engineering and IQS School of Management; IQS Executive Education, which offers specialised training to professionals and companies; the IQS Tech Transfer division, through which it carries out research, innovation and technology transfer for industries and companies; and IQS Tech Factory, which promotes entrepreneurial culture and supports the creation of new science-based technology companies. All this with the support of an important group of companies through the IQS Companies Foundation. The mission of IQS is the integral training of people with attitudes, knowledge and skills that enable them to develop personally and professionally. Due to its scientific tradition, IQS offers Bachelor's, Double Degrees, Master's and Doctorate studies in the areas of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy through the IQS School of Engineering and in Business Administration and Management and in the areas of Marketing, Accounting, Finance and Tourism through the IQS School of Management.

For more information, please visit almirall.com