Ferring Pharmaceuticals Strengthens Philippine Presence

In an industry as competitive, challenging and risky as the pharmaceutical business, Ferring Pharmaceuticals distinguishes itself from the rest by putting people ahead of profit.

Established against the backdrop of the Second World War, Dr Frederik Paulsen, fled from Germany as a student, eventually arriving in Sweden where he established Nordiska Hormon Laboratoriet in 1950. The company would later be known as Ferring with Dr Paulsen and wife Eva becoming the first scientists to synthesize peptides by producing adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH), or stress hormone.

This discovery made the company a pioneer in developing and selling pharmaceutical products based upon natural, pituitary-produced peptide hormones.

Choosing to remain under the radar of “big pharma” (referring to companies with revenue in excess of $3 billion, and/or research and development expenditure in excess of $500 million), it was only in 1988, when Dr. Paulsen’s youngest son Frederik Paulsen, assumed the position as chief executive and led the company’s worldwide expansion.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals first established a research group in San Diego in 1996, recognizing the vibrant opportunities in the region.  Since establishing a presence in San Diego, Ferring has been able to assemble a world-class peptide research organization and establish collaborations with leading academic scientists.

The Ferring Research Institute moved to its new home in San Diego in February 2009 with the opening of a 38,000-square-foot facility in Sorrento Valley. The new state-of-the art facility research houses expanded research laboratories for peptide medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, bioanalytical, and pharmacology.

In recent years, Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base: with over 4,500 employees worldwide, it operates subsidiaries in 55 countries and makes its products available in more than 100 countries.

Now based from a global hub in Switzerland Ferring develops innovative products in the four therapy areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics.

As a private, research-driven specialty biopharmaceutical company Ferring is committed to building a portfolio of novel, innovative peptide therapeutics to address areas of high unmet medical need..

Ferring’s expertise

The World Health Organization estimates that there are about 60 to 80 million cases of infertility around the world.

As opportunities arise in their careers, more women are waiting longer to have children. Due to this trend in the delay of pregnancy until an older age, up to a quarter of all couples may experience problems in conceiving a child.

Treatment of infertility is one of Ferring’s key areas of expertise and it is committed to progress in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

Ferring’s female healthcare portfolio consists of traditional highly purified and standardized human-derived products at every stage of the reproductive cycle to ensure better maternal health and safe child birth. Clinical studies and years of use have shown that Ferring’s hormonal therapies are effective and offer a good safety profile. Ferring looks to become the market leader in reproductive health care through its products for infertility and obstetrics.

Ferring in the PH

Now, Filipino couples who are having problems conceiving children need not go abroad, or spend more on acquiring Ferring’s products as the Company opened its Philippine offices at the Ecotower building, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The formal inauguration was graced by Michel Pettigrew, President and Chief Executive Officer who flew all the way from Switzerland together with other esteemed Ferring executives Ralph Diehl, trusted Consultant, Alex Chang, Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific, BingMei Hao, Regional Finance Controller, Jareen Yao, Associate Director of Business Excellence, and Ming Yip, Regional Senior Director for South East Asia.

They were formally welcomed by Ferring Philippines General Manager, Ms. Jane Villablanca together with industry partners and key opinion leaders from the various specialty medical societies.

The company’s philosophy is ‘People come first at Ferring’. “We live it every day of the week,” said Pettigrew. “We have a respect for all stakeholders – whether the patients, to ensure they get the care they deserve; the medical community or our employees. We expect our employees to take on a lot of responsibility – it’s a great place to work.”

It has been more than six decades, yet that same passion of Dr. Paulsen continues, as Ferring Pharmaceuticals proudly carries on a culture of enterprise driven by science, not profit..

“We’re privately owned by one man who has a strong belief that science must advance,” shared Pettigrew, his father’s vision still guides the company’s business today, and science remains at the heart of what it accomplishes.

For more information about Ferring, visit  www.ferring.com