News

Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals and Grupo Biotoscana enter into a Commercialization Agreement

Jul 25 2016

Castres (France) and Montevideo (Uruguay) – July 25, 2016 – Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals, the second-largest French private pharmaceutical laboratory and Grupo Biotoscana SL (GBT), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company in Latin America, today announced that they have completed an agreement in the field of oncology for GBT to commercialize Navelbine (Vinorelbine) in injectable and oral forms, Javlor (Vinflunine) and Busilvex (Busulfan) in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

GBT has received exclusive rights to register, import, market, promote and commercialize said pharmaceutical products in the before mentioned territories.

GBT, which is majority-owned by private equity firm Advent International, has operations in 10 Latin American countries, including high-growth geographies such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico Ecuador and Peru. The company focuses on fast-growing market segments such as specialty care, rare diseases and biopharmaceuticals.

Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals’ business in oncology is supported by over 1,000 employees worldwide. In 2015, its global sales in oncology surpassed €200 million on the strength of the Oral Navelbine, Javlor and Busilvex brands. Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals dedicates about 50% of its R&D spending to oncology.

“This new agreement with GBT will provide South American patients’ access to Pierre Fabre’s unique medicines to treat advanced forms of breast, lung and bladder cancers” stated Frédéric Duchesne, CEO of Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals. “We are confident that GBT - Grupo Biotoscana has the knowledge, experience and commitment to successfully commercialize our products in the region”

“Today’s announcement is very exciting as GBT welcomes a new partnership with a leading global pharmaceutical company” said Mariano García-Valiño, CEO, GBT – Grupo Biotoscana. “Pierre Fabre has a long tradition of research and development in the oncology field and this distribution agreement allows us to add three key products to our oncology and hematology portfolio. We are very eager to bring these medicines to the market to serve the many patients in need”

About Pierre-Fabre

Pierre Fabre is a French private pharmaceuticals and dermo-cosmetics company founded in 1962 by Mr. Pierre Fabre. Its turnover reached € 2,208 million in 2015, spread over 130 countries. The company is structured around two divisions: Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs, consumer health care) and Pierre Fabre Dermo-cosmetics (including the European and Asian market-leading brand Eau Thermale Avène). Pierre Fabre employs some 13,000 people worldwide and owns subsidiaries in 43 countries. In 2015, the company allocated 16% of its pharmaceuticals sales to R&D with a focus on four therapeutic areas: oncology, dermatology, CNS and consumer health care. Through the Group’s controlling company Pierre Fabre Participations, Pierre Fabre is 86% owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, a recognized public-interest organization established in 1999. Up to 8% of the remaining shares are held by the company’s employees and the remaining balance is held as treasury stock.

To find out more about Pierre Fabre, please go to www.pierre-fabre.com

About GBT

Grupo Biotoscana (GBT) is a biopharmaceutical group that operates in the fast growing Latin American region and focuses on rapidly growing market segments such as oncology, hematology, high-complexity genetic disorders, rare disease, infectious disease, HIV and other specialty treatments. GBT is currently present throughout 10 Latin American countries where it operates under its companies Biotoscana, United Medical and LKM. GBT’s strong portfolio combines world-class licenses and proprietary products with annual revenues of US$250 million. GBT is controlled by global private equity firm Advent International, with other significant shareholders including Essex Woodlands and a number of private investors. The specialty medicines market is the fastest-growing segment of the global pharmaceutical sector and is projected to account for 40%–50% of the market by 2018, according to IMS Health. IMS Health and Deloitte expect the Latin American pharmaceutical market to grow at a compound annual rate of 12% between 2013 and 2017, the highest growth rate of any region in the world due largely to increasing access to healthcare throughout Latin America. GBT will seek to capitalize on this significant opportunity by further expanding its regional footprint, diversifying its product portfolio through in-licensing and proprietary R&D and pursuing additional mergers and acquisitions. 

To find out more about Grupo Biotoscana, please go to www.grupobiotoscana.com

About Advent International

Founded in 1984, Advent International is one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors. The firm has invested in more than 300 private equity transactions in 40 countries and, as of March 31, 2016, had $42 billion in assets under management. Advent is one of the leading private equity investors in Latin America. Since 1996, the firm has raised more than $6 billion in funds dedicated to the region and invested in over 50 Latin American companies. Advent also has significant experience in the healthcare sector, having invested in more than 35 companies globally across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services and healthcare IT. In addition to Biotoscana and LKM, Advent’s Latin American healthcare investments have included Fleury S.A. (BM&FBOVESPA: FLRY3), the second-largest diagnostic services provider in Brazil, and Fada Pharma, Argentina’s leading manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals for the institutional market.
To find out more about Advent International, please go to www.adventinternational.com

About Essex Woodlands

With $2.5 billion under management, Essex Woodlands is one of the largest and oldest growth equity firms pursuing investments in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services and healthcare information technology. Since its founding in 1985, Essex Woodlands has maintained its singular commitment to the healthcare industry and has been involved in the founding, investing and/or management of over 150 healthcare companies, ranging across sectors, stages and geographies. The team is comprised of 20 senior investment professionals with offices in Palo Alto, Houston, New York and London.

To find out more about Essex Woodlands, please go to www.ewhv.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements concerning a transaction between Pierre Fabre and GBT-Grupo Biotoscana, including expectations with regard to the applicability of predictions to the commercialization of certain products. GBT-Grupo Biotoscana, Advent International and Essex Woodlands disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.


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Contacts:


Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals
Caroline Carmagnol / Florence Portejoie
ALIZE RP
Tel: + 33 1 44 54 36 66
[email protected]


GBT - Grupo Biotoscana
Raul Fagundes Neto / Fernando Marchi
Medialink (São Paulo)
Tel: +55 11 3817 2131
[email protected]

Advent International
Chuck Dohrenwend / Dana Gorman
Abernathy MacGregor (New York)
Tel: +1 212 371 5999
[email protected]

Essex Woodlands
Anne B. DeMaret
Investor Relations
Tel: +1 281 528 1956
[email protected]