Altana Pharma ‘looking for partners’

Altana Pharma’s president and chief executive officer has said his company is in discussions with potential partners to further develop its pharmaceuticals business.

Announcing the company’s half-yearly results, Dr Nikolaus Schweickhart said the company had provided “impressive” evidence that it was on track for the year.

The acquisition of the Eckhart group saw the total workforce swell by over a fifth, up to 13,500 people.

European sales outside of Germany increased by 15 per cent, helped by sales of pantoprazole, the gastrointestinal drug, as well as continued launches of Alvesco, an inhaled corticosteroid.

Furthermore, new drug applications for Omnairtm, a nasal spray that uses ciclesonide, the active ingredient in Alvesco, have been filed, although a combination therapy of ciclesonide and formoterol requires supplementary phase I/II trials before it can move into phase III development.

Dr Schweickhart remarked: “We are right on course. We are striving to achieve a strategically long-term solution which we are discussing with potential partners.”

“From today’s perspective, we will, as announced, take the decisive decisions and determine the direction of both processes in the course of this year,” he concluded.

There has been recent speculation about other companies attempting to bid for Altana. Altana has refused to discuss rumours surrounding interest from Solvay, while some reports suggest that Nycomed, a Danish drugs manufacturer, is also interested.

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