PharmaMar is a Spanish pharmaceutical company headquartered in Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1986 as a subsidiary of Zeltia, it absorbed its parent company and all its subsidiaries in a reverse merger takeover in 2015.[2] The company is a component of the Madrid Stock Exchange General Index (IGBM)[3] and the IBEX 35 since 2020, after being part of the Ibex Small Cap stock market index.

Pharma Mar S.A.
Company typeSociedad Anonima
BMADPHM
ISINES0169501022
IndustryPharmaceuticals
Founded1986
HeadquartersAvda. de los Reyes, 1 Pol. In. La Mina, 28770, Colmenar Viejo, Community of Madrid, Spain
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
José María Fernández Sousa-Faro (founder and CEO)
ProductsPrescription drugs for central nervous system disorders and oncology
RevenueIncrease €162.6 million (2018)[1]
Increase (€14.072 million) (2018)[1]
Increase (€4.632 million) (2018)[1]
Total assetsDecrease €157.676 million (2018)[1]
Number of employees
Decrease 600 (2018)[1]
SubsidiariesGenomica
Sylentis
Zelnova (2015–2019)
Xylacel (2015–2018)
Websitepharmamar.com

PharmaMar's key ventures include the research and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical drugs derived from marine-related resources for the treatment of certain cancers and Alzheimer's disease.[4] Its subsidiary Genomica has also developed molecular testing procedures for infectious diseases including COVID-19.[5][6] The corporation is also known for genetic analysis and paternity testing in the Spanish market.[7] Its subsidiary Sylentis develops therapies based in gene silencing techniques like RNA interference.[8]

History

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Zeltia (1939–2015)

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Zeltia was founded in 1939 in Vigo as a spin-off of Miguel Servet laboratories. During these initial years, it focused mainly in the production of drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases and gynaecologic disorders as controlled-release insuline, sulfonamides, Alkaloids and ephedrine.[9] In 1945, together with Spanish laboratories Abelló, Ibys, Leti, Llorente and Uquifa, it created the company Antibioticos SA, dedicated to packaging penicillin and streptomycin imported in bulk.[citation needed]

In 1963, Zeltia began to be listed in the stock exchange of Madrid. In 1964, it created three subsidiaries dedicated to the agricultural industry (Zeltia Agraria), the pharmaceutical industry (ICI Farma) and the chemical-veterinary industry (Zelnova) respectively. After an agreement with the German Desowag Bayer Holszschutz, in 1975 the Xylacel brand was created, which markets products for the treatment of wood and metal.

In 1984, Antibioticos SA and ICI Farma were released from the Zeltia group and in 1986 José María Fernández Sousa-Faro founded the PharmaMar subsidiary with the objective of developing Antitumor drugs from marine-based resources such as algae. In 1991, the Zeltia group decided to enter the market of genetic and molecular diagnosis with the creation of the subsidiary PharmaGen, which in 2001 was renamed Genomica. In the same year, PharmaMar achieved its first success by completing the chemical synthesis route to obtain the first drug against cancer developed entirely in Spain, the trabectedin (ecteinascidin 743 or ET-743). This chemical compound began to be marketed under the commercial name Yondelis after approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of soft-tissue sarcoma and uterine cancer in advanced stages.[10][11] Continuing with the expansion of the Zeltia group in the field of biotechnology, the subsidiary Sylentis was founded in 2006, aimed at the development of therapies based on gene silencing. Between 2012 and 2015, Zeltia expanded throughout Europe, reaching Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

PharmaMar (2015–)

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In 2015, with the aim of focusing in the group's main business, PharmaMar absorbed the entire Zeltia group by means of a reverse merger. In 2018, the Xylacel brand was sold to the Dutch multinational AkzoNobel[12] and in 2019, the subsidiary Zelnova.[13] At the beginning of the 2020, the PharmaMar group developed a specific diagnostic kit for the coronavirus based on diagnostic tests previously marketed by the subsidiary Genomica. This test allows a quick diagnosis, even before the patient shows symptoms.[14]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e PharmaMar 2018 Annual Report
  2. ^ "BRIEF-Zeltia to propose reverse merger with PharmaMar". Reuters. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Bolsa de Madrid – Precios de la sesión por sectores IGBM: Petróleo y Energía". bolsamadrid.es. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Oncology Pipeline | Pharmamar S.A". Pharmamar. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Genómica (Pharmamar) logra certificado CE para kit de detección coronavirus". efe.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  6. ^ "PharmaMar logra luz verde para comercializar los tests de diagnóstico del coronavirus". EXPANSION (in Spanish). 6 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Una empresa española lanzará los primeros kits de diagnóstico rápido de coronavirus". abc (in Spanish). 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Our expertise". SYLENTIS S.A. | Ophthalmic RNAi Pharmaceuticals. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Grupo Zeltia". Vigoempresa.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Oncology Pipeline | Pharmamar S.A". Pharmamar. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Search of: trabectedin - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov". clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  12. ^ KG, Vincentz Network GmbH & Co. "Akzo Nobel acquires Xylazel in Spain". European Coatings. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. ^ "El fabricante gallego de vacunas Zendal compra Zelnova, filial de PharmaMar". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Genómica (Pharmamar) logra certificado CE para kit de detección coronavirus". efe.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 March 2020.