About us - Ipsen UK

Ipsen in the UK

The UK forms a vital part of our Global R&D, manufacturing, distribution and commercial operations and offers a rich environment full of heritage, talent and opportunity.

Ipsen in the UK

Improving the lives of patients is what drives us

Ipsen was first established as a UK business in 1981. Today, the UK forms a critical and growing part of our Global network and is one of our core operating hubs alongside Boston, USA and Paris, France. Our three UK sites are an important part of our international operations, helping to drive the Ipsen vision of innovation for patient care.

Over the past four decades, Ipsen has cemented a strong presence in the UK, currently employing over 700 professionals across three sites; Wrexham, Slough (Bath Road) and Oxford (Milton Park). Our organisation spans three specialties in the UK: research and development, manufacturing and distribution, plus commercial operations. The UK contributes significantly to our business, with global specialised toxin production taking place at our site in Wrexham, over 40 scientists conducting research programmes at Milton Park and more than 200 employed at our commercial HQ in Bath Road.ⁱ

Everyday we strive to support positive change for patients and health services across the UK, working in close partnership to deliver meaningful results. We are investing significantly in growing our operations, with the UK forming a vital part of our Global growth strategy. Testament to this is the recent expansion of our sites, all of which have benefitted from significant investment in recent years.

Our sites in the UK

Ipsen UK has three key sites that oversee industry-leading R&D and manufacturing as well as core commercial operations for both our UK and international business.

Our sites in the UK

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Bath Road, Slough

Ipsen’s Bath Road site in Slough is one of our three international hubs, housing state-of-the-art facilities. Located here are many of our corporate functions, spanning both UK-specific and International responsibilities in commercial and technical operations.

We pride ourselves on offering exceptional people a great place to work and this site’s location provides just this, in the heart of Thames Valley.

Milton Park, Oxfordshire

Ipsen Bioinnovation is our cutting-edge R&D centre based at Milton Park in Abingdon. For over a decade it has acted as our hub for innovation, driving forward ambitious experimental science, overseeing core R&D functions and helping to foster scientific collaboration with some of the most prestigious institutions, hospitals and scientists across the world. At present, the neuroscience research team based in Milton Park, working with our sister site in Les Ulis, France, have collaborative relationships with around 35 key academic centres and principal investigators across the globe.

This site houses Ipsen’s technological platform for therapeutic toxins. Our UK scientists and researchers oversee industry-leading work in this field, discovering and developing entirely new compounds designed to treat disease and improve quality of life for patients.

Wrexham, North East Wales

A biologics centre of excellence, Wrexham is home to the Ipsen group’s Biologics Development & Manufacturing campus. It is the mainstay of the company’s neurology franchise and oversees global supply of one of our key therapeutic neurotoxins.

The Wrexham site houses a unique team of scientists focused on developing a range of scientifically-advanced, high-quality processes and methodologies required for the manufacture and supply of clinical products across the Ipsen Biologics portfolio. It is also the first Ipsen site to use 100% renewable power.

Ipsen is currently exploring further expansion of this site, with potential for new facilities and a Science Academy. By 2025, our aspiration is that this site will support the production and export of vials across the world.

Ipsen in partnership

At Ipsen, we strive to be a creative and like-minded partner of choice. We believe that achieving the best results for patients depends on our ability to work effectively and ethically in partnership with those around us.

Ipsen in partnership

Partnership and contribution that delivers for patients

Ipsen understands that working in partnership with those around us is a cornerstone of achieving meaningful change for patients. As a growing organisation with a dynamic and agile mindset, we are continuously trying to identify ways in which Ipsen can support the UK healthcare ecosystem. It is our aim to meet both the needs of patients and the community who care for them.

Whether working with world-leading scientists investigating cutting-edge neuroscience, partnering with the NHS to improve care for patients, or working with patient groups on disease awareness initiatives, we strive to establish partnerships with strong ethical foundations and bold ambitions.

Our contribution

Ipsen invests significantly in the UK as part of our ongoing commitment to driving positive change for patients, supporting the NHS and offering exceptional people a great place to work.

Harnessing UK talent

Ipsen has a strong UK presence, employing more than 700 people across three sites.ⁱ

Supporting future talent

Ipsen’s first graduate programme is being run from our Wrexham site. In October 2018 we welcomed two graduates onto our 24-month training programme. Graduates are supporting the Manufacturing Technical and Quality Aseptic functions and are benefitting from full insight into both our manufacturing and quality processes.

In 2017, Ipsen Biopharm was nominated as one of only three finalists at the UK STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Inspiration awards in the ‘Employer – Large Companies’ category.

Bringing new medicines to UK patients

We have successfully brought eight new treatments or indications to the UK market in recent years. Our bold ambition is to launch at least one new product or indication each year.

Investing in UK life sciences

Year-on-year we inject millions of pounds into the UK economy. Between 2016-2018 Ipsen invested around £80m in our UK sites, developing facilities as well as our clinical and R&D programmes.ⁱⁱ

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Clinical trials

Working with leading clinical centres across the UK, Ipsen’s research focuses on oncology, rare disease and neuroscience, investigating new compounds and increasing understanding of our licensed medicines.

Effectively gathering data

Ipsen, is committed to ensuring we bring therapies through clinical development in a way that is robust, practical and ethical.

In the UK we work with clinical centres and the NHS to test our experimental and existing therapies. Our researchers are striving to advance science as quickly as possible to deliver solutions and improve patient outcomes in our key areas of focus; oncology, neurosciences and rare diseases.

Research in neuroscience is core to Ipsen’s business and our work in speciality care. Our site at Milton Park conducts internationally-recognised research and employs over 40 scientists dedicated to the advancement of this therapy area.

Current clinical studies Ipsen is running

If you are a healthcare professional with a query about an Ipsen clinical trial, please contact:

medical.information.uk@ipsen.com

If you are a patient, or a family member or carer of a patient, and have a question about an Ipsen clinical study we advise that you first speak to your doctor. They will then be able to contact us, if required, with the detail and background of your query.

Details of all registered clinical trials are also available on the website www.clinicaltrials.gov

Collaborating with the NHS

Ipsen joint working ventures and collaborations with the NHS help drive best practice, deliver better patient care and support the vital work of healthcare professionals.

Working in partnership to deliver the best NHS care

Ipsen works hand-in-hand with the NHS to support patients, further healthcare research and drive best practice across the UK. By collaborating with the NHS, identifying mutual interests and working on shared objectives, our joint working projects aim to improve the lives of patients across the UK.

Current joint working & partnership initiatives

Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumour Service Reconfiguration at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle –

click through to full summary

Service Quality Improvement in Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) – Establishing Clinical Audit in Scotland –

click through to full summary

Management of Patients Receiving Oral Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma –

click through to full summary

Renal Cell Carcinoma Service Redesign Project between UHB NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital site, Birmingham –

click through to full summary

Payments to healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations

United Kingdom:

Annually, all payments made by Ipsen to UK healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations during the previous calendar year will be disclosed on a searchable and publicly accessible central database on The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) website, known as Disclosure UK, accessed via the following web address:

https://search.disclosureuk.org.uk/.

Ireland:

Annually, all payments made by Ipsen to Irish healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations during the previous calendar year will be disclosed on a publicly accessible central platform. Summary details of how IPHA member companies engage with and support healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations through direct or indirect financial support, or ‘Transfers of Value’, will be made public on www.transferofvalue.ie.

Working with the UK Government

The UK is a world-leading hub for bioscience innovation. Ipsen believes that an effective working relationship with the UK Government is a crucial part of this success.

Ipsen and the UK Government: working together towards success

The UK offers all the promise a global biopharmaceutical company like Ipsen needs to thrive and grow. We are excited to be able to play a significant role in this unique ecosystem and to help forge a bright future for UK life sciences.

Ipsen recognises that continued success in the life sciences sector relies on effective, honest collaboration with the UK Government, as well as with the NHS. We want to be a part of helping to shape policies that improve care for patients, foster innovation and ensure a promising and stable future for the NHS.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency, a government-funded body that aims to drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base. In September 2017, Ipsen received its first grant under this scheme. The project is a collaboration led by Ipsen Biopharm and the total sum of the grant is £1.2 million.

This project will examine using cell free expression to produce a botulinum toxin from a “doggybone DNA vector”. The project will develop a system for producing this vector and screen a wide range of conditions to negate the health and safety risks and overcome yield limitations associated with this kind of high-potency biopharmaceutical production.

Partnering with patient groups

Ipsen is proud to support the work of many patient advocacy groups across the UK. Working in partnership, we aim to help people and families affected by debilitating conditions to live better lives.

Working to help patients live better lives

Improving the lives of patients is what drives us at Ipsen. We view our work with patient advocacy groups as a pivotal part of delivering on that ambition.

At Ipsen we pride ourselves on working with patient advocacy groups in a way that reflects our core ethical values and maintains integrity. We strive to build long-term partnerships that offer mutual value, support the independent initiatives of patient advocacy groups and help them achieve their ambitions for patients.

Throughout every collaboration we set clear goals, operate transparently and always support a patient organisation’s need to remain independent. Details of financial support Ipsen has provided to patient groups in the UK and Ireland are set out below.

Sponsorship and financial support of UK and Ireland patient advocacy groups and charities

Ipsen is pleased to have provided sponsorship to the following Patient Organisations in the UK in 2015:

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2015 (£)
The Pituitary Foundation	Helpline service providing support for patients and carers via telephone or email	4,026.75
NET Patient Foundation	Support the analysis of Quality of Life data for patients with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (pNET)	20,000.00
The Stroke Association	Support of the ‘Road to Recovery’ rehabilitation leaflet	7,500.00
		31,526.75

Ipsen is pleased to have provided sponsorship to the following Patient Organisations in the UK in 2016:

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2016 (£)
AMEND	Donation towards the ‘Big Give Campaign’	500.00
The Stroke Association	Sponsorship of a Stroke Association conference on 4 masterclasses	5,000.00
Kidney Cancer UK	Patient Education Events	7,500.00
		13,000.00

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2016 (€)
SAFE	Burden of Stroke 2017 report	48,655
		48,655

Ipsen is pleased to have provided sponsorship to the following Patient Organisations in the UK in 2017:

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2017 (£)
Footsteps	Charitable donation to improve the rehabilitation services for children and young adults	551.31
BIG GIVE	Charitable donation in relation to their 2016 Campaign	500
Action on Bladder Cancer	Unsolicited grant towards completion of a guidance pack and patient information material	7,000
Kidney Cancer Support Network	Unsolicited grant for World Kidney Cancer Day disease awareness campaign	5,000
NET Patient Foundation	Unsolicited grant to support patient education meetings, newsletters and online nursing education	25,344.34
NET Patient Foundation	Charitable donation in relation to NET Patient Speaker at Ipsen internal meeting	2,233.19
AMEND	Unsolicited grant to support production of newsletters	2,270
		42,898.84

Ipsen is pleased to have provided sponsorship to the following Patient Organisations & charities in the UK in 2018:

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2018 (£)
Stroke Association	Charitable donation in relation to 2018 campaign activities	4,000.00
Kidney Research UK	Unsolicited grant for annual Fellows Day	5,000.00
Different Strokes	Unsolicited grant to support an audit in relation to patients with GEP-NETS	10,000.00
Kidney Cancer UK	Unsolicited grant for 6-information days for patients and carers	6,024.00
Kidney Cancer Support Network	Unsolicited grant to support activities on World Kidney Day	7,675.00
Kidney Cancer Scotland	Unsolicited grant for Kidney awareness day in Scotland	2,700.00
Pelican Cancer Foundation	Sponsorship to support KHP NET study day	5,000.00
Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust	Sponsorship Payment for the PROSTATE mpMRI Reading	300.00
		40,699.00

Ipsen is pleased to have provided sponsorship to the following Patient Organisations in Ireland in 2015:

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2015 (€)
NET Patient Network	Sponsorship of the Annual Patient Day	4,000.00
		4,000.00

Ipsen is pleased to have provided sponsorship to the following Patient Organisations in Ireland in 2016:

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2016 (€)
Irish Cancer Society	Sponsorship of Cancer Survivorship Conference	15,000.00
Marie Keating Foundation	Mens Health Promotion Campaign	5,000.00
NET Patient Network	Sponsorship towards their patient day	4,000.00
		24,000.00

Ipsen is pleased to have provided sponsorship to the following Patient Organisations & charities in Ireland in 2018:

Organisation	Description of the Services Provided	Amount paid towards activities in 2018 (€)
NET Patient Network	Sponsorship towards supporting their annual NET Patient Day	4,500.00
		4,500.00

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Choose Your Location:

Ipsen in the UK

Improving the lives of patients is what drives us

Our sites in the UK

Find out more

Bath Road, Slough

Milton Park, Oxfordshire

Wrexham, North East Wales

Ipsen in partnership

Partnership and contribution that delivers for patients

Our contribution

Clinical trials

Collaborating with the NHS

Working with the UK Government

Partnering with patient groups