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About Us

“When my father, Dr. Gabriele Braglia, founded Helsinn in 1976, he had a simple pharmaceutical licensing business in mind. Now, over 40 years later, we’ve grown to around 680 committed employees, and together with our long-standing commercial and marketing partners, that are helping us create a large portfolio of cancer care and rare diseases therapies. As we move forward, we will never forget our fundamental objective: to build better todays for every person affected by cancer.”

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO

Board & Management

Our Management Team brings together wide-ranging expertise from across the whole spectrum of cancer care and rare diseases. We’re focused on pushing further to deliver more life-changing treatments for people with cancer today and in the future.

Learn more

Our Locations

Helsinn is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. The company has a global presence with a 360° approach of quality, state-of-the-art R&D and world-class production facilities in Biasca, Switzerland and Dublin, Ireland and a growing presence in the United States and China.

Learn more

Board & Management

Our Management Team brings together wide-ranging expertise from across the whole spectrum of cancer care and rare diseases. We’re focused on pushing further to deliver more life-changing treatments for people with cancer today and in the future.

Learn more

Our Locations

Helsinn is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. The company has a global presence with a 360° approach of quality, state-of-the-art R&D and world-class production facilities in Biasca, Switzerland and Dublin, Ireland and a growing presence in the United States and China.

Learn more

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

We are committed to making everything we do count towards the best therapies and supportive care for cancer patients—from the products we license to the rigorous standards we apply as a pharmaceutical manufacturer. At Helsinn we are committed to extending the reach of our quality care and use our expertise to fulfil more unmet needs and build better todays for more patients worldwide.

Our Mission

To bring better todays to even more people through a portfolio of quality innovative cancer and rare disease therapies.

Our Vision

To shape the Helsinn Group into one of the world’s leading cancer-care companies with a focus on improving patients’ quality of life.

Our Values

We are a family-run company, and have retained our founding values of quality, integrity and respect, which guide everything we do.

QUALITY

Maintaining the highest standards means we produce world-class solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for people with cancer.

INTEGRITY

Being honest, ethical and trustworthy is helping us become the cancer care partner of choice.

RESPECT

Treating our partners as we would like to be treated leads to strong, enduring relationships

Milestones

For over 40 years, Helsinn has followed its core values of quality, integrity and respect, to grow into an international business committed to improving the everyday lives of people with cancer, all over the world.

  • With reference to the Global CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation achieved in 2018, also in 2019 Helsinn belonged to the accredited Companies recognized for a variety of wellbeing related activities with the commitment to reducing the risk of cancer amongst our employees.
  • Our CEO, Riccardo Braglia, joins the Board of the Conquer Cancer Foundation
  • Helsinn Investment Fund announces its first exit with the sale of its shares in AMAL Therapeutics
  • Helsinn Advanced Synthesis (Biasca) unveils its new anticancer ingredients plant and drastically reduces emissions by shifting from heating oil to renewable energy by latching on to the district heating plant system of Nuova Energia Ticino (NET)
  • Creation of a new unified Group Compliance & Quality Division
  • Acquisition of Valchlor®/Ledaga® from Actelion, marking Helsinn’s first step into the cancer therapeutics field
  • Helsinn International Services Sarl, Monaco signs a scientific collaboration agreement with the Scientific Centre of Monaco to support a research project aimed at developing pharmacological inhibitors for one of the most common forms of kidney cancer
  • Helsinn receives the Global CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation for the 4th year in a row
  • Our CEO, Riccardo Braglia, is nominated to the Board of the Conquer Cancer Foundation
  • Helsinn Group Launches “Helsinn Cares” Patient Support Services in the US, a Patient Assistance Program and Voucher Program to support both insured and uninsured patients
  • Helsinn starts a collaboration with Lyfebulb, a patient-centric company that empowers patient entrepreneurs to deliver innovative products and solutions to patients living with chronic disease
  • On the roof of HBP in Dublin a new PhotoVoltaic electricity generator is installed. 200 panels capture solar power and generate up to 50KW/day
  • The First Conquer Cancer Foundation/Anna Braglia Endowed Young Investigator Award in Cancer Supportive Care, is awarded
  • The Shanghai Branch of Helsinn Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co. Ltd., opens on August 7
  • Helsinn obtains exclusive rights to promote and sells Akynzeo® in the US, previously co-detailed with Eisai
  • Helsinn signs an agreement with MEI Pharma, Inc. an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapies for cancer, to enter into an exclusive licensing, development and commercialization contract for pracinostat, a Phase III-ready drug candidate for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and other potential indications
  • Opening of Helsinn International Services (HIS) and launch of Helsinn Investment Fund (HIF) which is focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need
  • The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves Akynzeo® oral. The product has been launched in several European Countries
  • Start of clinical trials for I.V. formulation netupitant/palonosetron fixed-dose-combination
  • Helsinn obtains the Global CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation, which recognizes our commitment to reducing cancer risk through the promotion of a healthier lifestyle, earlier disease detection and high quality care in the workplace
  • Nimesulide, the active ingredient of the blockbuster Aulin®, celebrates its 30th anniversary
  • HTU moves into the new offices, located in a LEED Gold building in Iselin, NJ
  • The First Helsinn Group Sustainability Report (“Quality of Life”) is published
  • The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Akynzeo® oral (netupitant/palonosetron fixed-dosecombination) for the Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV). It is launched in the US in the co-selling partnership between HTU and Eisai
  • FDA grants the pediatric indication to Palonosetron, based on the results of the largest clinical trials ever run in a pediatric population
  • HBP is the first private company in Ireland to publish a Sustainability Report in accordance with the new Global Reporting Initiative framework, GRI G4
  • Helsinn establishes a new commercial organization within its subsidiary HTU in order to conduct direct sales and marketing activities within the US market, and, with a dedicated sales force, initiates the co-selling of Aloxi® together with its partner Eisai
  • HAS is the first company in Ticino, Switzerland, to prepare a Sustainability Report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
  • Ernst & Young recognizes Riccardo Braglia as the “Best Entrepreneur in the High Tech/Life Sciences category in Switzerland” and selects him to represent Switzerland at The Worldwide Entrepreneur of the Year contest in Montecarlo
  • Helsinn opens a representative office in Beijing in China and files for an IND application for netupitant/palonosetron fixeddose-combination
  • Helsinn opens a new chemical plant for the production of ANTICANCER compounds at HAS
  • New analytical laboratories open at HBP
  • Our CEO Riccardo Braglia receives the prestigious “2011 Entrepreneur in Italian-Speaking Switzerland” award
  • Helsinn Chemicals SA, Biasca, Switzerland and Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA, Biasca, Switzerland merger. The manufacturing facility is now called Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA (HAS)
  • A new R&D center of excellence opens at HBP
  • 2009 – The US biotech company Sapphire Therapeutics Inc. is acquired: creation of Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc. (HTU). The operation includes the rights for a ghrelin-based development platform and anamorelin, a novel therapy in development for the management of cachexiarelated symptoms in cancer patients
  • 2005 – Palonosetron is launched in EU and in Latin America; Netupitant is in-licensed from Roche with global rights for development and commercialization
  • 2003 – Palonosetron is launched in the US by our partner MGI Pharma, now Eisai Inc.
  • 1999 – Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA, the second Swiss manufacturing plant, is inaugurated in Biasca, dedicated to highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs)
  • 1998 – Worldwide licensing agreement is signed with Syntex-Roche for palonosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist used in the prevention and treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) and Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)
  • 1995 – Relocation of HBP to new premises in Damastown
  • 1990 – Acquisition of an Irish pharmaceutical company, now Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals Ltd (HBP), in Dublin
  • 1985 – Nimesulide is launched on the international market
  • 1984 – Helsinn Chemicals SA, the Group’s first manufacturing plant opens in Biasca, Switzerland
  • 1980 – Worldwide licensing agreement is signed with 3M Pharmaceuticals for nimesulide, a leading non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
  • 1976 – Helsinn is established by the Braglia family in Tessin, Switzerland.
  • With reference to the Global CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation achieved in 2018, also in 2019 Helsinn belonged to the accredited Companies recognized for a variety of wellbeing related activities with the commitment to reducing the risk of cancer amongst our employees.
  • Our CEO, Riccardo Braglia, joins the Board of the Conquer Cancer Foundation
  • Helsinn Investment Fund announces its first exit with the sale of its shares in AMAL Therapeutics
  • Helsinn Advanced Synthesis (Biasca) unveils its new anticancer ingredients plant and drastically reduces emissions by shifting from heating oil to renewable energy by latching on to the district heating plant system of Nuova Energia Ticino (NET)
  • Creation of a new unified Group Compliance & Quality Division
  • Acquisition of Valchlor®/Ledaga® from Actelion, marking Helsinn’s first step into the cancer therapeutics field
  • Helsinn International Services Sarl, Monaco signs a scientific collaboration agreement with the Scientific Centre of Monaco to support a research project aimed at developing pharmacological inhibitors for one of the most common forms of kidney cancer
  • Helsinn receives the Global CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation for the 4th year in a row
  • Our CEO, Riccardo Braglia, is nominated to the Board of the Conquer Cancer Foundation
  • Helsinn Group Launches “Helsinn Cares” Patient Support Services in the US, a Patient Assistance Program and Voucher Program to support both insured and uninsured patients
  • Helsinn starts a collaboration with Lyfebulb, a patient-centric company that empowers patient entrepreneurs to deliver innovative products and solutions to patients living with chronic disease
  • On the roof of HBP in Dublin a new PhotoVoltaic electricity generator is installed. 200 panels capture solar power and generate up to 50KW/day
  • The First Conquer Cancer Foundation/Anna Braglia Endowed Young Investigator Award in Cancer Supportive Care, is awarded
  • The Shanghai Branch of Helsinn Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co. Ltd., opens on August 7
  • Helsinn obtains exclusive rights to promote and sells Akynzeo® in the US, previously co-detailed with Eisai
  • Helsinn signs an agreement with MEI Pharma, Inc. an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapies for cancer, to enter into an exclusive licensing, development and commercialization contract for pracinostat, a Phase III-ready drug candidate for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and other potential indications
  • Opening of Helsinn International Services (HIS) and launch of Helsinn Investment Fund (HIF) which is focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need
  • The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves Akynzeo® oral. The product has been launched in several European Countries
  • Start of clinical trials for I.V. formulation netupitant/palonosetron fixed-dose-combination
  • Helsinn obtains the Global CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation, which recognizes our commitment to reducing cancer risk through the promotion of a healthier lifestyle, earlier disease detection and high quality care in the workplace
  • Nimesulide, the active ingredient of the blockbuster Aulin®, celebrates its 30th anniversary
  • HTU moves into the new offices, located in a LEED Gold building in Iselin, NJ
  • The First Helsinn Group Sustainability Report (“Quality of Life”) is published
  • The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Akynzeo® oral (netupitant/palonosetron fixed-dosecombination) for the Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV). It is launched in the US in the co-selling partnership between HTU and Eisai
  • FDA grants the pediatric indication to Palonosetron, based on the results of the largest clinical trials ever run in a pediatric population
  • HBP is the first private company in Ireland to publish a Sustainability Report in accordance with the new Global Reporting Initiative framework, GRI G4
  • Helsinn establishes a new commercial organization within its subsidiary HTU in order to conduct direct sales and marketing activities within the US market, and, with a dedicated sales force, initiates the co-selling of Aloxi® together with its partner Eisai
  • HAS is the first company in Ticino, Switzerland, to prepare a Sustainability Report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
  • Ernst & Young recognizes Riccardo Braglia as the “Best Entrepreneur in the High Tech/Life Sciences category in Switzerland” and selects him to represent Switzerland at The Worldwide Entrepreneur of the Year contest in Montecarlo
  • Helsinn opens a representative office in Beijing in China and files for an IND application for netupitant/palonosetron fixeddose-combination
  • Helsinn opens a new chemical plant for the production of ANTICANCER compounds at HAS
  • New analytical laboratories open at HBP
  • Our CEO Riccardo Braglia receives the prestigious “2011 Entrepreneur in Italian-Speaking Switzerland” award
  • Helsinn Chemicals SA, Biasca, Switzerland and Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA, Biasca, Switzerland merger. The manufacturing facility is now called Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA (HAS)
  • A new R&D center of excellence opens at HBP
  • 2009 – The US biotech company Sapphire Therapeutics Inc. is acquired: creation of Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc. (HTU). The operation includes the rights for a ghrelin-based development platform and anamorelin, a novel therapy in development for the management of cachexiarelated symptoms in cancer patients
  • 2005 – Palonosetron is launched in EU and in Latin America; Netupitant is in-licensed from Roche with global rights for development and commercialization
  • 2003 – Palonosetron is launched in the US by our partner MGI Pharma, now Eisai Inc.
  • 1999 – Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA, the second Swiss manufacturing plant, is inaugurated in Biasca, dedicated to highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs)
  • 1998 – Worldwide licensing agreement is signed with Syntex-Roche for palonosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist used in the prevention and treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) and Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)
  • 1995 – Relocation of HBP to new premises in Damastown
  • 1990 – Acquisition of an Irish pharmaceutical company, now Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals Ltd (HBP), in Dublin
  • 1985 – Nimesulide is launched on the international market
  • 1984 – Helsinn Chemicals SA, the Group’s first manufacturing plant opens in Biasca, Switzerland
  • 1980 – Worldwide licensing agreement is signed with 3M Pharmaceuticals for nimesulide, a leading non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
  • 1976 – Helsinn is established by the Braglia family in Tessin, Switzerland.

Working for Helsinn

If you are interested in a career at Helsinn, or would like to take part in an internship, please visit our Working for Helsinn page.

Learn more

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