Though still one of the younger and lesser-known outfits inhabiting the European drug development landscape, Irish-headquartered rare disease specialist, Jazz pharma has been making tremendous headway in the onco-haematology and sleep disorder spaces and the Spanish affiliate is absolutely no exception.
We blend the lessons of art with our deep understanding of patients’ needs and the power of science to develop and introduce medicines for people who often do not have other options
“Having opened our doors in Spain only in 2014, we are already proud to have tripled our number of employees to 25, and remain right on track to make the first products in our onco-haematology portfolio commercially available locally before the end of the year,” affirms Ines Perea, general manager for Iberia.
Ines Perea, general manager of Jazz Pharmaceuticals Spain & Portugal
With its specialized expertise in conditions where prognosis has traditionally been rather poor – such as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) – this will come as most welcome news to the respective patient communities. “One of the distinguishing hallmarks of Jazz is that we proactively seek solutions for rare or complex diseases with a view to ensuring that meaningful treatments are available for often-overlooked patients,” points out Perea.
The disruptive impact of this new kid on the block is equally apparent in the style as well as the substance of what they do. “Our philosophy and culture are distinctive and pretty much unprecedented… Our company name was inspired by jazz music, which is the art of harnessing individual talents through collaboration, improvisation and constant evolution. It’s unique in its sound and composition, and the connections it creates are personal,” she explains. “In health care, it is much the same. We blend the lessons of art with our deep understanding of patients’ needs and the power of science to develop and introduce medicines for people who often do not have other options. It’s this idiosyncratic philosophy and our steadfast commitment to the patients we serve that most define what we’re all about,” she adds.
Meanwhile, Spain stands out as a potentially strategic market for an innovative company that last year alone invested more than $200 million on R&D. “One of the eye-catching features of the contemporary Spanish market is its burgeoning strength in clinical trials. We are already working with scientific societies to commence haemo-oncology studies and believe this will furnish us with an excellent foundation to build upon,” confides Perea
