ALTANA opens Research Institute in the U.S.

16-Jun-2003

Altana Pharma AG, Constance, the pharmaceutical division of ALTANA AG, Bad Homburg, officially opened the ALTANA Research Institute (ARI) in Waltham, Boston (USA). Having spent several months building up a research organization and reconstructing the facility, the research center is now ready to carry out its functions within the R&D organization of ALTANA Pharma. ARI operations will focus on genomics and proteomics, but will also include an IT/bioinformatics component. The ARI was set up and will be operated in collaboration with strategic partner GPC Biotech AG of Munich.

"This biotech research institute has established us in the especially creative Boston environment with its many qualified scientists and researchers, and is an important step in establishing our fully integrated U.S. organization. The institute will function as an interface with our Discovery Research unit in Constance, helping us to find new therapeutic approaches in our core research fields, i.e. gastroenterology, respiratory and oncology", commented Professor Dr. Heinz W. Radtke, Member of the Management Board and Head of Research and Development at ALTANA Pharma AG, at the official opening ceremony.

Around 50 scientists are currently working on the various ARI research projects under the leadership of Dr. Klaus Melchers, the ARI's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Work on the ARI began in November 2001 as part of a 5 ½-year collaboration between ALTANA Pharma and GPC Biotech. ALTANA will invest a total of around US $ 120 million in the institute within the framework of this partnership.

In recent years, ALTANA Pharma has increased its R&D budget by around 30% annually. In the 2002 financial year, the company invested EUR 335 million in Research & Development, which is equivalent to around 20% of therapeutics sales. The R&D budget will again be expanded in 2003 to further enhance ALTANA Pharma's long-term innovative capacity.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/24136/altana-opens-research-institute-in-the-u-s.html