Speedel’s Renin Inhibitor Success Story
February 2008
Speedel’s Renin Inhibitor Success Story
Fintan Walton talks to Alice Huxley, CEO of the Swiss biopharmaceutical company Speedel
Speedel’s Renin Inhibitor Success Story
Over a year on from their last discussion, Fintan Walton talks to Alice Huxley, CEO of the Swiss biopharmaceutical company Speedel. They look back at the company’s successes during 2007, in particular the launch of its renin inhibitor Tekturna® (aliskiren, SPP100) in the US and Europe. This is not only a first-in-class product, but the first of Speedel’s compounds to reach the market. The company’s plans to develop Tekturna further and to expand within the renin inhibitor field through its other drug candidates are also discussed. Alice goes on to offer an insight into the company’s strategy going forward in terms of whether it plans to in-license products or grow organically, and also talks about what 2008 may hold for Speedel.
About Alice Huxley
Dr Huxley is CEO, President and co-founder of Speedel. Before the birth of Speedel in 1998, she was Global Project Manager at Novartis Pharma and has extensive experience in research and drug development process in a matrix-type pharmaceutical R&D organisation. She has led several global multidisciplinary teams that have successfully brought innovative drugs to market.
About Speedel
Speedel is a biopharmaceutical company that develops innovative therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. It was founded in 1998 through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, and has a focus in renin inhibition, a promising new approach with significant potential for treating cardiovascular diseases. In addition to SPP100 (Tekturna), now approved for use in hypertension, but still under development for other indications, the company’s clinical pipeline includes two other renin inhibitors (SPP635 in Phase II and SPP1148 in Phase I), an endothelin A receptor antagonist (SPP301, in Phase II), and a direct thrombin inhibitor (SPP200, in Phase II). There are also several preclinical projects with other renin inhibitors. Tekturna is partnered with Novartis.
