Servier Laboratories (French: Laboratoires Servier, often abbreviated to Servier) is an international

pharmaceutical company The pharmaceutical industry is a Medicine, medical industry that discovers, develops, produces, and markets pharmaceutical goods such as medications and medical devices. Medications are then administered to (or Self-medicate, self-administered b ...

governed by a non-profit foundation, with its

headquarters Headquarters (often referred to as HQ) notes the location where most or all of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. The term is used in a wide variety of situations, including private sector corporations, non-profits, mil ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

(

Suresnes Suresnes () is a commune in the western inner suburbs of Paris, France. Located in Hauts-de-Seine, from the centre of Paris, it had a population of 49,482 as of 2020. Suresnes borders the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, ...

). The consolidated turnover for the 2018 financial year was €4.2 billion. Servier is the leading French independent pharmaceutical company, and the second largest French pharmaceutical company. It has branches in 149 countries, achieving 82% of its sales outside France. The company reportedly invests a little under 25% of its turnover in

research and development Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in some countries as OKB, experiment and design, is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage ...

, which occupies 3,000 of its 22,000 employees worldwide. The company's production sites produced 853 million drug boxes in 2013. The Servier Clinical Support Unit in Gidy (near

Orléans Orléans (,"Orleans"
(US) and clinical trials Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human subject research, human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel v ...

, is the largest unit of its kind in Europe. Servier Laboratories is a full member of the

European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) is a Brussels-based trade association and lobbying organisation, founded in 1978 and representing the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its membershi ...

(EFPIA). In 2018, Servier finalized the acquisition of Shire’s oncology branch in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

and named David K. Lee as CEO. The official opening of Servier's new U.S. headquarters took place in 2019. In 2009,

Mediator Mediation is a structured, voluntary process for resolving disputes, facilitated by a neutral third party known as the mediator. It is a structured, interactive process where an independent third party, the mediator, assists disputing parties ...

, an amphetamine-based Servier drug originally developed for weight loss in people with diabetes but often prescribed off-label as a dieting aid, was withdrawn from the market after being linked to 500–2000 deaths in France.Un doute sur la «sécurité» du Mediator dès 1998 - Libération
/ref> Further investigations found that many previous safety alerts on that drug had been either missed or covered up, possibly due to the improper influence of the well-connected company. On March 29, 2021, a French court fined Servier €2.7m (£2.3m) after finding it guilty of deception and manslaughter, with Mediator linked to the deaths of up to 2,000 people. The former executive Jean-Philippe Seta was sentenced to a suspended jail sentence of four years, while the elderly Jacques Servier had died and therefore could not be sentenced. The French medicines agency, accused of failing to act quickly enough on warnings about the drug, was fined €303,000.

Product portfolio

Notable products: *

Gliclazide Gliclazide, sold under the brand name Diamicron among others, is a sulfonylurea type of anti-diabetic medication, used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is used when dietary changes, exercise, and weight loss are not enough. It is taken by mouth. ...

(Diamicron, Diamicron MR) —

antidiabetic drug Drugs used in diabetes treat types of diabetes mellitus by decreasing blood sugar level, glucose levels in the blood. With the exception of Insulin (medication), insulin, most GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide, exenatide, and others), and pra ...

Indapamide Indapamide is a thiazide-like diuretic drug used in the treatment of hypertension, as well as decompensated heart failure. Combination preparations with perindopril (an ACE inhibitor antihypertensive) are available. The thiazide-like diuretics ...

(Fludex SR, Natrilex SR, Lozide) —

diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics ...

Ivabradine Ivabradine, sold under the brand name Procoralan among others, is a medication, which is a pacemaker current (I''f'') inhibitor, used for the symptomatic management of heart-related chest pain and heart failure. Patients who qualify for use o ...

(Procoralan) *

Perindopril Perindopril is a medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or stable coronary artery disease. As a long-acting ACE inhibitor, perindopril works by inhibiting production of the vasoconstriction hormone, angiotensin, there ...

(Coversyl) —

ACE inhibitor Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) are a class of medication used primarily for the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure. This class of medicine works by causing relaxation of blood vessels as well as a decr ...

Strontium ranelate Strontium ranelate, a strontium(II) salt of ranelic acid, is a medication for osteoporosis marketed as Protelos or Protos by Servier. Studies indicate it can also slow the course of osteoarthritis of the knee. The drug is unusual in that it bo ...

(Protelos) —

osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to more porous bone, and consequent increase in Bone fracture, fracture risk. It is the most common reason f ...

agent *

Amineptine Amineptine, formerly sold under the brand name Survector among others, is an atypical antidepressant of the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) family. It acts as a selective and mixed dopamine reuptake inhibitor and releasing agent, and to a le ...

(Survector, Maneon, Directim) *

Tianeptine Tianeptine, sold under the brand names Stablon, Tatinol, and Coaxil among others, is an atypical tricyclic antidepressant which is used mainly in the treatment of major depressive disorder, although it may also be used to treat anxiety, asthma ...

(Stablon) *

Trimetazidine Trimetazidine (IUPAC: 1-(2,3,4-trimethoxybenzyl)piperazine) is a drug sold under many brand names for angina pectoris (chest pain associated with impaired blood flow to the heart). Trimetazidine is described as the first cytoprotective anti-i ...

(Vastarel MR) —

antianginal An antianginal is a drug used in the treatment of ''angina pectoris'', a symptom of ischaemic heart disease. Myocardial ischemia arises from the dysfunction of coronary macrovascular or microvascular components, leading to a compromised supply o ...

drug. Other products: *

Agomelatine Agomelatine, sold under the brand names Valdoxan and Thymanax, among others, is an atypical antidepressant most commonly used to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. One review found that it is as effective as other ...

(Valdoxan, Melitor, Thymanax) *

Almitrine Almitrine (marketed as Duxil by Servier) is a diphenylmethylpiperazine derivative classified as a respiratory stimulant by the ATC. It enhances respiration by acting as an agonist of peripheral chemoreceptors located on the carotid bodies. Th ...

(Duxil, Vectarion) *

Benfluorex Benfluorex, sold under the brand name Mediator, is an anorectic and hypolipidemic agent that is structurally related to fenfluramine (a substituted amphetamine). It may improve glycemic control and decrease insulin resistance in people with ...

(Mediaxal) *

Carbutamide Carbutamide (brand name Glucidoral) is an anti-diabetic drug of the sulfonylurea class, developed by Servier. It is classified as first-generation. It was patented A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the lega ...

(Glucidoral) *

Daflon Daflon is an oral micronized purified phlebotonic flavonoid fraction containing 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin. It is manufactured by Laboratoires Servier and often used to treat or manage disorders of the blood vessels. Flavonoids are a type of ph ...

500 *

Fenspiride Fenspiride (INN, brand names Eurespal, Pneumorel and others) is an oxazolidinone spiro compound used as a drug in the treatment of certain respiratory diseases. The pharmacotherapeutic classification is antitussives. In Russia it was approved fo ...

(Pneumorel) *

Fotemustine Fotemustine is a nitrosourea alkylating agent used in the treatment of metastatic melanoma Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer; it develops from the melanin-producing cells known as melanocytes. It typically occurs in the ...

(Muphoran) *

Fusafungine Fusafungine (International Nonproprietary Name, INN), also known as fusafungin, is an active agent used in antibiotics for treatment of nasal infection, nasal and throat infection. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Fusafungine is a m ...

(Locabiotal) *

(Diamicron) *

(Natrilix, Tertensif, Lozide) *

Pegaspargase Pegaspargase, sold under the brand name Oncaspar, is a medication used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Often it is used together with anthracycline, vincristine, and corticosteroids (for example prednisone and dexamethas ...

(Oncaspar) —

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the Lymphocyte, lymphoid line of blood cells characterized by the development of large numbers of lymphoblast, immature lymphocytes. Symptoms may include feeling tired, pale skin color, fever, ...

treatment *

(Coversyl, Prestarium) * Perindopril/indapamide (Preterax, Coversyl Plus) *

Piribedil Piribedil is an antiparkinsonian agent and piperazine derivative which acts as a D2 and D3 receptor agonist. It also has α2-adrenergic antagonist properties. Medical uses * Treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), either as monotherapy (w ...

(Trivastal retard) *

Rilmenidine Rilmenidine is a prescription medication for the treatment of hypertension. It is taken orally and marketed under the brand names Albarel, Hyperium, Iterium and Tenaxum. Mechanism of action Rilmenidine, an oxazoline compound with antihyperten ...

(Hyperium) *

(Coaxil, Stablon) *

Sodium alginate Alginic acid, also called algin, is a naturally occurring, edible polysaccharide found in brown algae. It is hydrophilic and forms a viscous gum when hydrated. When the alginic acid binds with sodium and calcium ions, the resulting salts are kn ...

(Pseudophage) *

Sulbutiamine Sulbutiamine sold under the brand names Arcalion, Enerion, and Sulbuxin is a synthetic derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1). In France, it is used to treat symptoms of weakness or fatigue. In Uruguay, it is prescribed when there is thiamine defic ...

(Arcalion) *

Tertatolol Tertatolol (Artex, Artexal, Prenalex) is a medication in the class of beta blockers, used in the treatment of high blood pressure. It was discovered by the French pharmaceutical company Servier and is marketed in Europe. Tertatolol has also been ...

(Artex) *

Vitamin Vitamins are Organic compound, organic molecules (or a set of closely related molecules called vitamer, vitamers) that are essential to an organism in small quantities for proper metabolism, metabolic function. Nutrient#Essential nutrients, ...

s (Vitathion)

Collaborative research

As well as internal research and development activities, Servier undertakes publicly funded collaborative research projects with industrial and academic partners. One example, in the area of non-clinical safety assessment, is the InnoMed PredTox. The company is expanding its activities in joint research projects within the framework of the

Innovative Medicines Initiative The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is a European initiative to improve the competitive situation of the European Union in the field of pharmaceutical research. The IMI is a joint initiative ( public-private partnership) of the DG Resear ...

EFPIA The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) is a Brussels-based trade association and lobbying organisation, founded in 1978 and representing the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its membershi ...

and the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

. In addition to these, Servier engages in research and licensing collaborations across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. These collaborations include: *In Cardiology: XENTION (UK, 2013), AMGEN (USA, 2013), MIRAGEN (USA, 2011), ARMGO (USA, 2006) *In Diabetes: INTARCIA (USA, 2014) *In Metabolic diseases: INTERCEPT - TGR5 agonists (USA, 2011), Genfit (FR, 2004) *In Neurology (MS): GENEURO (CH, 2014) *In Oncology: CTI BIOPHARMA (USA, 2014), NOVARTIS (CH, 2014), CELLECTIS (FR, 2014), NERVIANO (IT, 2013), EOS (IT) / CLOVIS (USA, 2012),

BIOINVENT BioInvent International is a Swedish clinical-stage biotech company that discovers and develops novel and first-in-class immunomodulatory antibodies for cancer therapy. The company’s validated, proprietary F.I.R.S.T™ technology platform simulta ...

(SE, 2012), MACROGENICS (USA, 2011/12), GALAPAGOS (NDL, 2011), BIOREALITES (FR, 2011), PHARMACYCLICS - HDAC inhibitor (USA, 2009), HYBRIGENICS (FR, 2007/2011) VERNALIS (UK, 2007/2011) *In Orphan Diseases/Cardiology/Diabetes: XOMA (USA, 2010) *In Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis: OSTEOLOGIX (USA, 2010), GALAPAGOS (NDL, 2010), KAROS (USA, 2010), NORDIC BIOSCIENCE (DK, 2006/2010) Servier acquired

Symphogen Symphogen is a biotechnology company located in Copenhagen, Denmark that develops protein drugs based on recombinant monoclonal antibody mixtures. These drugs are different from the polyclonal antibody, polyclonal antibodies, as each antibody in the ...

in 2020.

Controversy

Servier Laboratories has been the subject of worldwide scandal for creating and distributing a weight-loss drug called Mediator (

), which may have killed up to 2,100 people. The movie '' 150 Milligrams'', by director Emmanuelle Bercot, features Dr. Irène Frachon discovering that Mediator pills cause heart valve problems/deaths and how in 2009 she starts an uphill battle against the producer and the French health authorities. In March 2021, Servier was sentenced to a fine of 2.7 million euros for aggravated deception and

involuntary manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...

, however it was acquitted of fraud charges. The court also ordered the company to pay several hundred million euros in damages to the 6,500 plaintiffs, and one of its leading managers was sentenced to four years on probation. The French medical agency ANSM was fined 300,000 euros for failing proper supervision. A French pharmaceutical company, continued its operations in Russia despite international sanctions and the geopolitical consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company's decision to maintain its presence in the region was criticized by organizations advocating for ethical corporate conduct during global conflicts.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Pharmaceutical companies established in 1954 French companies established in 1954 French brands Suresnes