Galapagos NV
Galapagos discovers, develops and commercializes small molecule medicines with novel modes of action. Our pipeline comprises discovery through to Phase 3 programs in inflammation, fibrosis, and other indications. Our first medicine is approved and available to patients in Europe and Great Britain for rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis, and in Japan (under a collaboration with Gilead) for rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1999
- Employees:
- Over 1000
About Us
We are a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative medicines. We are committed to improving patients’ lives worldwide by targeting diseases with high unmet needs. Our R&D capabilities cover multiple drug modalities, including small molecules and cell therapies. Our portfolio comprises discovery through to Phase 4 programs in immunology, oncology, and other indications. Our first medicine for rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis is approved and available in Europe and Japan.
Our mission is to develop transformational medicines in areas of high unmet need by combining internal with external science with the goal to add years of life and improve quality of life of patients across the globe.
Through the combined acquisition of CellPoint and AboundBio, we are adding a new therapy and disease area to its current small molecules portfolio: cell therapy, a potential transformative treatment of different types of cancer. It propels us into next-generation cell therapies, while significantly broadening our portfolio and capabilities.
We employ more than 1,300 employees worldwide, with sites in Belgium (international headquarters), the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, the Nordics, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
Our History
Galapagos was founded in 1999 as a joint venture between Crucell and Tibotec. In May 2005, the Company listed on Euronext Brussels and Amsterdam (ticker symbol: GLPG). In 2006, Galapagos acquired ProSkelia in Romainville, France, obtaining R&D operations there. In 2010, Galapagos acquired the Zagreb research operations from GSK; this site became Fidelta, a drug discovery fee-for-service business within the Galapagos group. Fidelta was acquired by Selvita in 2021.
In 2014 Galapagos sold fee-for-service businesses BioFocus and Argenta to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., giving Galapagos a sole focus on the development and execution of a broad and deep R&D pipeline based on novel mechanisms-of-action.
Galapagos listed on the US NASDAQ (ticker symbol: GLPG) in May 2015.
In 2015, Galapagos signed a collaboration agreement with Gilead for the development and commercialization of filgotinib.
In 2019, Galapagos entered into a transformative 10-year global research and development collaboration with Gilead.
In 2020, Jyseleca® was granted marketing authorization for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the European Union, Great Britain and Japan, marking Galapagos’ transition to commercial-stage biotech. A year later, in 2021, the European Commission and Great Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), followed by an approval by the Japanese authorities in 2022.
In 2021, Galapagos took full ownership of the manufacturing and commercialization of Jyseleca in Europe and became Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) in 27 European countries, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. In Central and Eastern Europe, Portugal, Greece and the Baltic countries, Galapagos’ partner Sobi is responsible for the distribution and commercialization.
In June 2022, Galapagos announced the acquisition of CellPoint and AboundBio, propelling Galapagos into next-generation cell therapy while significantly broadening its portfolio and capabilities. With CellPoint and AboundBio, Galapagos gains access to a scalable, decentralized and automated point-of-care cell therapy supply model, a clinical pipeline in advanced blood cancers as well as a human antibody-based therapeutics platform. The acquisition of both companies is a first key step in the company’s strategic transformation to accelerate and diversify Galapagos’ pipeline.