Our strategy to bring our vision to life

We are determined to become the next generation biopharma leader and to enable families with severe diseases to lead normal, everyday lives. This is underpinned by a clear and pragmatic strategy.

Therapeutic areas

This strategy involves focusing on severe diseases in three therapeutic areas:

• Central Nervous System
• Inflammation
• Oncology

UCB also has a selective presence in primary care.

As severe diseases are treated by a relatively small number of specialists, we can have a close relationship and regular dialogue with physicians and their patients – an essential ingredient for understanding and addressing the daily physical and social symptoms of these diseases.

Severe diseases also require a smaller sales force, so more resources can be devoted to R&D and other functions.

We also maintain a strong yet selective presence in primary care (e.g. allergy and cardiovascular) to support specialist products that are administered by primary care physicians (and that are likely to be prescribed by these physicians in future as governments attempt to reduce healthcare costs).

Combining biology and chemistry to make major breakthroughs

By integrating our expertise in large, antibody-based molecules and small, chemically-derived molecules, we can offer families with severe diseases and their specialist physicians:

• The efficacy of large-molecule ‘new biological entities’ (NBEs), such as Cimzia®
• The convenience and cost-effectiveness of small, ‘new chemical entities’ (NCEs), such as Keppra® or Neupro®
• The advantages of both to produce extraordinary breakthroughs…

Our pioneering A2HiT™ project, which is using our leading antibody research to design more effective novel chemical entities, is one of the most exciting examples of how we are capitalising on the synergies between biology and chemistry.

Partnering with the leaders in the pharmaceutical industry

The complexities of severe diseases are beyond the expertise and resources of a single organisation. That is why we have teamed up with over 30 partners – we play to our strengths and tap into the organisations with greater or complementary strengths.

From research and development to marketing and supply chain, we have joined forces with organisations such as Amgen (R&D – anti-sclerostin for boneloss disorders), Pfizer (Marketing – Xyzal®, antihistamine) and Lonza (Manufacturing – Cimzia® for Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis).

Leveraging our global scale and intellectual capital

Networking our global resources and expertise not only results in cost reductions but also to cross-fertilise the knowledge and skills of our staff across the world, as well exploit opportunities to develop therapies around the clock, across time zones. This is supported by an entrepreneurial, empowered and results-driven culture and a relentless commitment to the highest standards of quality.