#Spain #Barcelona #ESTEVE #Caprelsa #thyroid cancer

ESTEVE Expands Its Portfolio with Caprelsa® Acquisition

In a significant move, ESTEVE has entered into a strategic agreement with Sanofi to acquire rights to Caprelsa® (vandetanib), a crucial medication aimed at treating aggressive and symptomatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in individuals aged five years and older. This acquisition marks a substantial step forward in ESTEVE's mission to enhance its global presence while focusing on specialized treatments for unmet medical needs.

Medullary thyroid cancer, a rare neuroendocrine tumor, originates in the thyroid gland's parafollicular cells, which produce the hormone calcitonin. Caprelsa® serves as a protein kinase inhibitor, effectively blocking the activity of tyrosine kinases, which play a pivotal role in cancer cell proliferation. By minimizing blood supply to the cancerous cells, the drug helps slow down tumor growth, providing a vital treatment option for patients battling this challenging disease.

José María Giménez-Arnau, ESTEVE's Chief Scientific Medical Officer, emphasizes the importance of Caprelsa® in the treatment landscape for MTC. He states, "MTC is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that can produce calcitonin from parafollicular cells. While surgery is the primary treatment, CcCaprelsa® can slow or potentially even partially reverse tumor growth, improving patient outcomes significantly. We are proud to support patients diagnosed with this carcinoma alongside their healthcare professionals, with the goal of enhancing health and quality of life."

This acquisition aligns with ESTEVE's recent endeavors to diversify its portfolio, which also includes a specialized company focused on rare and ultra-rare diseases in endocrinology and onco-endocrinology. In April 2024, ESTEVE expanded its offerings by adding three novel medications targeting endogenous Cushing's syndrome and adrenocortical carcinoma. Furthermore, they recently licensed a biologic product designed to treat severe insulin-like growth factor deficiency in children and adolescents aged 2 to 18, as well as an adjunctive treatment approved for high-grade resectable osteosarcoma in patients aged 2 to 30 years.

Jacob Tolstrup, ESTEVE's Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted, "We are proud to confirm that we are enhancing our portfolio of highly specialized therapies. Caprelsa® will allow us to improve the lives of patients across the globe. This agreement represents a significant advance in our internationalization strategy, as we focus on providing specialized treatments for unmet medical needs."

The completion of this transaction remains contingent on obtaining standard regulatory approvals. With ESTEVE's commitment to research and development, this acquisition is expected to spur further growth and innovation within the pharmaceutical industry.

Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Barcelona, ESTEVE operates in multiple countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, and the United States. The company is dedicated to developing innovative solutions to address unmet therapeutic needs and adheres to the highest standards of quality and efficiency in manufacturing pharmaceutical active ingredients.

For more information about ESTEVE and their initiatives, please visit ESTEVE's website.

Contact Information:
Irene Simón, Head of Global External Communications ESG, ESTEVE
Tel: +34 934 466 000 | Email: [contact@esteve.com]
Gemma Mestre, External Digital Communications Manager, ESTEVE
Tel: +34 934 466 000 | Email: [contact@esteve.com]