Helsinn Group was founded as Biex Solarix by Gabriele Braglia in 1976 in Chiasso, Switzerland. The Group is still steered and managed by the Braglia family. In just three decades, Helsinn has grown from a half floor of offices to a multinational operation selling its products in 85 countries world-wide. The Helsinn Group has a workforce of around 438 employees in Switzerland, Ireland and USA, and invests over 20% of the turnover in Research & Development.

Milestones in Helsinn’s recent history:

1980 - Worldwide licensing agreement signed with 3M Pharmaceuticals for the original nimesulide, a leading non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

1983 - Helsinn Chemicals SA, Group’s first manufacturing plant, opens in Biasca, Switzerland.

1985 - Nimesulide goes on the market.

1990 - Acquisition of the Irish pharmaceutical company, now Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

1998 - Worldwide licensing agreement signed with Syntex-Roche for palonosetron, second generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist indicated for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) and Post-Operative Nausea.

1999 - Helsinn Advanced Synthesis S.A, second Swiss manufacturing plant, founded in Biasca.

2003 - Palonosetron launched in the USA.

2005 - Palonosetron launched in EU; netupitant, compound under development for the prevention of CINV and the treatment of overactive bladder, in-licensed from Roche.

2008 - Partnering agreement with Zealand Pharma, Denmark, for the development and world-wide commercialization of the novel GLP-2 agonist for Chemotherapy-Induced Diarrhoea (CID), ZP1846 TIDE.

2009 - US biotech company Sapphire Therapeutics Inc., acquired to establish the US-based R&D and commercial operation, Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.

2010 - Helsinn Chemicals SA, Biasca, Switzerland and Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA, Biasca, Switzerland merger. The manufacturing facility is now called Helsinn Advanced Synthesis SA.