Interview with Ingo Raimon, General Manager, AbbVie Austria
You have had an extensive career at the company, since 1989. What does the company have to offer that has made you stay so long and dedicated? AbbVie is a…
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Austria
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affected by rare and debilitating diseases for over 30 years. Its approximately 10,000 employees work in countries throughout the world and are united by a common goal: to make a major positive impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve.
Since its founding in 1981, Genzyme has grown from a small start-up to a diversified global enterprise. Over the past three decades, Genzyme has introduced a number of breakthrough treatments in several areas of medicine, which have provided hope to patients who previously had few viable treatment options. Genzyme products are helping patients in 100 countries.
Today, Genzyme continues to be driven by its commitment to patients. The company is working to develop new medicines, improve its existing therapies, secure approvals for its products around the world, and ensure that patients have access to these treatments. As a Sanofi company, Genzyme benefits from the reach and resources of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients.
Research and Development
Genzyme’s research and development efforts are focused on the areas of medicine where it markets commercial products. The company also conducts research in immune-mediated diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and other areas of unmet medical need. Genzyme continues to build its pipeline through both internal research and licensing and acquisitions, focusing on product candidates with the potential to change the standard of care for serious diseases. The company’s pipeline features four major late-stage programs: alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis; teriflunomide for multiple sclerosis; the oral therapy eliglustat tartrate for Gaucher disease; and mipomersen for familial hypercholesterolemia and other high risk, high cholesterol patients.
Corporate Responsibility
Corporate responsibility is a priority at Genzyme. The company’s commitment to patients extends beyond the development of new treatments and the services needed to deliver them. Genzyme has a strong presence in developing countries, where it provides free medicine to patients and helps to build sustainable health care systems. Genzyme’s headquarters is one of the most environmentally responsible office buildings in the world, and the company is a leader in waste-reduction and recycling efforts. In addition, Genzyme supports science education and health initiatives in the communities in which it operates. For these and other efforts, Genzyme has been consistently included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which consists of companies that excel in economic, environmental and social performance. BusinessWeek has ranked Genzyme as one of the top corporate givers, and the company has also been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and many other organizations.
Genzyme focuses on the following areas of medicine:
Rare Diseases
Genetics Genzyme is a leader in the development of treatments for lysosomal storage disorders. These inherited diseases, which typically affect fewer than 10,000 people worldwide, are caused by enzyme deficiencies. Genzyme markets enzyme replacement products to treat four of these diseases, which can be life-threatening.
o Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection) – for Gaucher disease type I.
o Fabrazyme® (agalsidase beta) – for Fabry disease.
o Aldurazyme® (laronidase) – for Mucopolysaccharidosis I.
o Myozyme® (alglucosidase alfa) and Lumizyme™ (alglucosidase alfa) – for Pompe disease.
Endocrinology
Genzyme is committed to the improvement of testing and treatment for thyroid cancer, the fastest-growing cancer in the U.S.
o Thyrogen® (thyrotropin alfa for injection), is used in thyroid cancer follow-up, allowing patients to be screened without having to suspend thyroid hormone therapy. It is also approved in the U.S. and Europe for use in remnant ablation, a procedure patients commonly undergo when being treated for thyroid cancer.
o Afirma® Thyroid FNA Analysis – In 2012, Genzyme entered into a co-promotion agreement with Veracyte, Inc. to market and promote Veracyte’s innovative and novel approach for improved thyroid nodule diagnosis.
Multiple Sclerosis
Genzyme is committed to becoming a long-term partner in the MS community. Our two promising late-stage MS product candidates represent the highest level of innovation and have the potential to offer benefits to a diverse group of people living with MS.
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