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Research and Development
R&D philosophy
Octapharma R&D has a long and strong tradition of innovation and evolution rather than imitation and stagnation. This is clearly demonstrated by Octapharma’s continuous investment in, and enhancement of, existing products as well as ongoing projects to develop a world-class portfolio for the future.
Driven by public demand, scientists working within recombinant industry and plasma fractionation industry have developed ever more sophisticated technologies, with the potential to provide safer and more innovative products. However, most of these cannot be employed in routine manufacture due to the high costs and low returns on investments. Equally, the potential benefits promised by some new technologies have been negated by the emergence of undesirable side-effects in routine clinical use.
This experience has led Octapharma R&D scientists to go back to basics. Exploiting existing know-how, whilst focusing on maintaining each human protein in its native state and natural environment, is the underlying principle for Octapharma R&D.
Simultaneously, by recognising that most patients around the world with clotting and immunological disorders are currently untreated, it is Octapharma’s aim to fulfil this unmet need by providing a complete range of safe, tolerable, efficacious and cost-effective human protein-derived biopharmaceuticals for the use in:
- Coagulation deficiencies
- Immune disorders
- Emergency medicine and Intensive care
R&D mission
To develop, utilise and optimise technologies in order to increase the availability of virus inactivated, life-saving human proteins, including recombinants and plasma derived, to clinicians and patients around the World.
“Safe and optimal use of human proteins”
Octapharma’s corporate mission statement is also at the heart of R&D.
As such, Octapharma’s R&D efforts are directed towards:
- Improving pathogen safety through implementation of robust and novel technologies
- Providing a complete portfolio of human protein based products to meet both current and future therapeutic needs
- Increasing the return on each and every litre of fractionated plasma by harvesting more clinically relevant proteins
- Maximising manufacturing yields
- Improving the cost-effectiveness of manufacturing processes
- Providing high quality products at an acceptable price
R&D sites
Octapharma’s long-term commitment to R&D is clearly demonstrated by its diverse activities and geographical locations. More than 170 highly skilled and dedicated scientists are located in:
- Vienna (Corporate Product Development, Pre-Clinical, Intellectual Property, Toxicology & Pharmacology and Clinical R&D)
- Stockholm (Recombinant Manufacturing Development and Intellectual Property)
- Berlin (Molecular Biochemistry)
- Frankfurt (Virus & Prion Validation)
- Munich (Contract Research, Recombinant Products)
- Lachen (Clinical R&D, hematology)
R&D portfolio
Octapharma’s R&D groups are currently working on more than twenty projects. Of these, the five lead products are:
- New generation immunoglobulin for intravenous administration (IVIG)
- Uniplas – a unique universally applicable virus inactivated plasma for transfusion
- Human cell-line based recombinant factor VIII products
- G-CSF
- HGF
For further information about Octapharma’s R&D please contact:
Juergen Roemisch, Director of Plasma Research & Development.
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