Track record

For a medium-sized company, we have not only had an unusually large impact, but also demonstrated our ability to re-invent ourselves.

Strong and geographically balanced, long-term growth

• Since the 1950s, when we entered the pharmaceutical market, our revenues have grown solidly and now stand at around €3.6 billion in 2007.
• North America accounts for 46% of our sales, followed by Europe (42%) and Rest of the World (12%).

A world leader in epilepsy and allergy

• The anti-epileptic, Keppra®, is a market leader in both the United States (34% market share) and Europe (29% market share) and is extending its leadership thanks to the launch of a string of new indications for this global brand – a measure of our ability to optimise the life cycles of our products. Keppra® now has more than 1.5 million years of patient experience. Its main successor, brivaracetam, promises to make greater headway.
• The anti-histamine Zyrtec®, remains a market leader in the United States, twenty years after the first launch of  the product. To further manage this franchise, we launched Xyzal® in the United States during the fourth quarter of 2007, under a co-marketing agreement with sanofi aventis. Xyzal® is already approaching market leadership in Europe.
• A leader in antibody research, supported by our Centre of Antibody Excellence, our proprietary SLAM (Selected Lymphocyte Antibody Method) technology, enables us to isolate functionally active antibodies with exceptional speed.
• A unique, patented expertise in the SV2A protein, which lies at the heart of our family of anti-epileptics.
• These and other R&D strengths are complemented by more than thirty major scientific and technological partnerships.

A rich pipeline of large and small molecules

• Twelve molecules, including five large, antibody-based molecules and seven small, chemically-derived molecules, are in clinical development, addressing sixteen different types of severe disease, from multiple sclerosis to rheumatoid arthritis to early Parkinson's disease.

A history of re-inventing ourselves

• Established in Belgium in 1928, UCB originally focused on chemicals, with a small pharmaceutical unit. By the 1950s, it moved more heavily into pharmaceuticals, discovering Atarax®, a non-benzodiazepenic tranquiliser. Zyrtec® was launched in 1987 and Keppra® in 1999.
• We started to transform ourselves into a focused biopharma with large and small molecule therapies in 2004 with the acquisition of the leading UK biotech company Celltech. Chemicals, Films and other non-core assets were sold.
• In 2006, we filed our most advanced biologic, Cimzia®, for regulatory approval and acquired Schwarz Pharma, strengthening our resources, pipeline and product portfolio, taking us into new fields such as Parkinson’s disease or restless legs syndrome and fibromyalgia.
• For more detailed insights into our evolution, see our history