Servier Laboratories
Encyclopedia
Servier Laboratories is a privately owned French
pharmaceutical company
that specialises in medication for cardiological
and rheumatological
conditions, as well as for diabetes
and clinical depression
. The consolidated turnover for the 2005/2006 financial year was €3.5 billion. Servier is the leading French independent pharmaceutical company, and the second largest French pharmaceutical company worldwide. It has branches in 140 countries, achieving 82% of its sales outside France. The annual sales of its ACE inhibitor, Coversyl (perindopril), in 2006 and 2007 exceeded 1 billion US dollars, making it Servier's highest-selling product.
The company reportedly invests a little under 25% of its turnover in research and development
, which occupies 3,000 of its 20,000 employees worldwide. The company's production sites produced 670 million drug boxes in 2006.
The Servier Clinical Support Unit in Gidy
(near Orléans
), which produces drugs for clinical trials, is the largest unit of its kind in Europe. Servier Laboratories is a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
(EFPIA).
Other products:
Mediator
, an amphetamine-based Servier drug originally developed for weight loss in people with diabetes but often prescribed off-label as a dieting aid, was withdrawn from the market after being linked to 500–2000 deaths in France. Further investigations found that many previous safety alerts on that drug had been either missed or hushed down, possibly through improper influence of the company.
safety assessment, is the InnoMed PredTox. The company is expanding its activities in joint research projects within the framework of the Innovative Medicines Initiative
of EFPIA and the European Commission
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
pharmaceutical company
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
that specialises in medication for cardiological
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
and rheumatological
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Clinicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists...
conditions, as well as for diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
and clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. The consolidated turnover for the 2005/2006 financial year was €3.5 billion. Servier is the leading French independent pharmaceutical company, and the second largest French pharmaceutical company worldwide. It has branches in 140 countries, achieving 82% of its sales outside France. The annual sales of its ACE inhibitor, Coversyl (perindopril), in 2006 and 2007 exceeded 1 billion US dollars, making it Servier's highest-selling product.
The company reportedly invests a little under 25% of its turnover in research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
, which occupies 3,000 of its 20,000 employees worldwide. The company's production sites produced 670 million drug boxes in 2006.
The Servier Clinical Support Unit in Gidy
Gidy
Gidy is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
(near Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
), which produces drugs for clinical trials, is the largest unit of its kind in Europe. Servier Laboratories is a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations is a Brussels-based trade union founded in 1978 representing the research-based pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe....
(EFPIA).
Product portfolio
Notable products:- GliclazideGliclazideGliclazide is an oral hypoglycemic and is classified as a sulfonylurea. It is marketed as Glizid, Glyloc and Reclide in India and Diamicron in Canada. In the Philippines, Servier markets it as Diamicron MR, like in most countries across the world. Many generic equivalents are also available e.g....
(Diamicron, Diamicron MR) — antidiabetic drug - IndapamideIndapamideIndapamide is a thiazide diuretic drug marketed by Servier, generally used in the treatment of hypertension, as well as decompensated cardiac failure. The US trade name for indapamide is Lozol. Indapamide is marketed as Natrilix outside of the US, as Insig in Australia...
(Fludex SR, Natrilex SR, Lozide) — diureticDiureticA diuretic provides a means of forced diuresis which elevates the rate of urination. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from bodies, although each class does so in a distinct way.- Medical uses :... - IvabradineIvabradineIvabradine is a novel medication used for the symptomatic management of stable angina pectoris. It is marketed under the trade name Procoralan , Coralan in India , Australia or such as in Italy Corlentor , and was also known as S-16257 during its development...
(Procoralan) — antianginalAntianginalAn antianginal is any drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris, a symptom of ischaemic heart disease.-Nitrates:Nitrates cause vasodilation of the venous capacitance vessels by stimulating the endothelium-derived relaxing factor...
drugs - PerindoprilPerindoprilPerindopril, or perindopril arginine, is a long-acting ACE inhibitor. Perindopril is used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure or stable coronary artery disease. It is also available in a generic form, perindopril erbumine...
(Coversyl) — ACE inhibitorACE inhibitorACE inhibitors or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are a group of drugs used primarily for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure... - Strontium ranelateStrontium ranelateStrontium ranelate, a strontium salt of ranelic acid, is a medication for osteoporosis marketed as Protelos or Protos by Servier. It is unusual in the sense that it both increases deposition of new bone osteoblasts and reduces the resorption of bone by osteoclasts...
(Protelos) — osteoporosisOsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
agent - TianeptineTianeptineTianeptine was discovered by The French Society of Medical Research in the 1960s. Under the trade-names it is a drug used for treating major depressive episodes ....
(Stablon) — antidepressant - TrimetazidineTrimetazidineTrimetazidine is a drug for angina pectoris, sometimes referred to by the brand name Vastarel MR. Each tablet contains 35 mg of trimetazidine....
(Vastarel MR) — antianginalAntianginalAn antianginal is any drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris, a symptom of ischaemic heart disease.-Nitrates:Nitrates cause vasodilation of the venous capacitance vessels by stimulating the endothelium-derived relaxing factor...
drugs, selective serotonin reuptake enhancerSelective serotonin reuptake enhancerA selective serotonin reuptake enhancer is a type of drug which enhances the plasmalemmal reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, leading to a decrease in its synaptic concentrations and therefore a decrease in serotonergic neurotransmission....
(SSRE).
Other products:
- Agomelatine (Valdoxan, Melitor, Thymanax)
- AlmitrineAlmitrineAlmitrine is a diphenylmethylpiperazine derivative classified as a respiratory stimulant by the ATC. It enhances respiration by acting as an agonist of peripheral chemoreceptors located on the carotid bodies...
(Duxil, Vectarion) - AmineptineAmineptineAmineptine was developed by the French Society of Medical research in the 1960s. Under the trade-names is used as an atypical tricyclic antidepressant that selectively inhibits the reuptake of dopamine and to a lesser extent norepinephrine, thus exerting a powerful and fast-acting...
(Survector, Maneon, Directim) - BenfluorexBenfluorexBenfluorex is an anorectic and hypolipidemic agent that is structurally related to fenfluramine. Two clinical studies have shown it may improve glycemic control and decrease insulin resistance in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes; However Servier is suspected of having marketed Mediator...
(Mediaxal) - CarbutamideCarbutamideCarbutamide is an anti-diabetic drug of the sulfonylurea class, developed by Servier.It is classified as first-generation....
(Glucidoral) - DaflonDaflonDaflon is a micronized purified flavonoid fraction containing 90% Diosmin and 10 % Flavonoids expressed as Hesperidin.-Therapeutic Indications:...
500 - FenspirideFenspirideFenspiride is a spiro compound used as a drug in the treatment of certain respiratory diseases....
(Pneumorel) - FotemustineFotemustineFotemustine is a nitrosourea alkylating agent approved for use in the treatment of metastasising melanoma. A study has shown that fotemustine produces improved response rates and increased survival over dacarbazine in the treatment of disseminated cutaneous melanoma....
(Muphoran) - FusafungineFusafungineFusafungine , also known as fusafungin, is an active agent used in antibiotics for treatment of nasal and throat infection. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties...
(Locabiotal) - GliclazideGliclazideGliclazide is an oral hypoglycemic and is classified as a sulfonylurea. It is marketed as Glizid, Glyloc and Reclide in India and Diamicron in Canada. In the Philippines, Servier markets it as Diamicron MR, like in most countries across the world. Many generic equivalents are also available e.g....
(Diamicron) - IndapamideIndapamideIndapamide is a thiazide diuretic drug marketed by Servier, generally used in the treatment of hypertension, as well as decompensated cardiac failure. The US trade name for indapamide is Lozol. Indapamide is marketed as Natrilix outside of the US, as Insig in Australia...
(Natrilix, Tertensif, Lozide) - PerindoprilPerindoprilPerindopril, or perindopril arginine, is a long-acting ACE inhibitor. Perindopril is used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure or stable coronary artery disease. It is also available in a generic form, perindopril erbumine...
(Coversyl, Prestarium) - Perindopril/indapamidePerindopril/indapamidePerindopril/indapamide is a combination therapy for the treatment of Essential hypertension.-Form and Composition:Each scored tablet contains 2 mg of perindopril tert-butylamine salt and 0.625 mg of indapamide.-Dosage and Administration:...
(Preterax, Coversyl Plus) - PiribedilPiribedilPiribedil is an antiparkinsonian agent and piperazine derivative which acts as a D2 and D3 receptor agonist...
(Trivastal retard) - RilmenidineRilmenidineRilmenidine is a prescription medication for the treatment of hypertension. It is marketed under the brand names HYPERIUM and Tenaxum.- Form and composition :...
(Hyperium) - Sodium alginate (Pseudophage)
- SulbutiamineSulbutiamineSulbutiamine is a synthetic derivative of thiamine . As a dimer of two modified thiamine molecules, it is a lipophilic compound that crosses the blood-brain barrier more readily than thiamine and increases the levels of thiamine and thiamine phosphate esters in the brain...
(Arcalion) - TertatololTertatololTertatolol is a medication in the class of beta blockers, used in the treatment of high blood pressure. It was discovered by the French pharmaceutical company Servier and is marketed in Europe....
(Artex) - VitaminVitaminA vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. In other words, an organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on...
s (Vitathion)
Mediator
Benfluorex
Benfluorex is an anorectic and hypolipidemic agent that is structurally related to fenfluramine. Two clinical studies have shown it may improve glycemic control and decrease insulin resistance in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes; However Servier is suspected of having marketed Mediator...
, an amphetamine-based Servier drug originally developed for weight loss in people with diabetes but often prescribed off-label as a dieting aid, was withdrawn from the market after being linked to 500–2000 deaths in France. Further investigations found that many previous safety alerts on that drug had been either missed or hushed down, possibly through improper influence of the company.
Collaborative research
As well as internal research and development activities, Servier undertakes publicly-funded collaborative research projects with industrial and academic partners. One example, in the area of non-clinicalPre-clinical development
In drug development, pre-clinical development is a stage of research that begins before clinical trials can begin, and during which important feasibility, iterative testing and drug safety data is collected....
safety assessment, is the InnoMed PredTox. The company is expanding its activities in joint research projects within the framework of the Innovative Medicines Initiative
Innovative Medicines Initiative
The Innovative Medicines Initiative is a European initiative to improve the competitive situation of the European Union in the field of pharmaceutical research...
of EFPIA and the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.