EUSA Pharma Successfully Launches as an Independent Profitable Pharmaceutical Business with Global Reach and a Portfolio of Specialty Products Acquired from Jazz Pharmaceuticals

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England, March 23, 2015 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England, March 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

EUSA Pharma (EUSA), a newly-established profitable specialty pharmaceutical business with global reach, today announced its official launch following the acquisition of five approved specialty hospital products, a multi-national commercial infrastructure and the EUSA Pharma brand name from Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Jazz).  The new company is led by Chief Executive Bryan Morton, who has over 30 years' healthcare industry experience and previously founded two specialty pharmaceutical companies including the original EUSA Pharma business that was acquired by Jazz in 2012.  The newly-established EUSA is supported by significant funding raised from leading healthcare growth equity investor Essex Woodlands, and the company has ambitious plans to accelerate its growth through acquisition and in-licensing. 

EUSA Pharma has commercial operations in the United States and key European markets, and a global distribution network serving approximately 40 other territories.  The company has a portfolio of five approved and several named-patient specialty products, which had annual sales of approximately $27 million in 2014. EUSA is working closely with Jazz to provide a smooth transition of the products to ensure that patients will continue to receive their treatments.

Caphosol® is a supersaturated calcium phosphate rinse used as adjunct therapy, alongside standard care, in the treatment and prevention of oral mucositis, a common and debilitating side-effect of radiation therapy and high-dose chemotherapy.  The product is approved in the US, Europe and a number of other territories, including Australia and Hong Kong. 
Collatamp® is a lyophilized collagen surgical implant impregnated with the antibiotic gentamicin and is used in hemostasis in surgeries with high risk of infection.  It is approved in Europe, South America, the Middle East and South-East Asia, and a number of other countries including Canada, Australia and New Zealand. EUSA Pharma has global rights to the product outside the USA.
Custodiol® is a pre-prepared solution with a regulatory approval in France for use in the hypothermic storage and preservation of organs for transplantation (heart, kidney, liver and pancreas). 
Fomepizole® is a pharmacological antidote approved in a number of European countries for the treatment of poisoning with ethylene glycol, a compound commonly used in antifreeze.
Xenazine® is approved for the treatment of movement disorders associated with Huntington's chorea and hemiballismus, and EUSA Pharma has commercial rights to the product in France.
The newly-established EUSA Pharma is headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, UK, with wholly-owned subsidiaries in the US, Germany, France and Holland.  The company initially comprises approximately 60 employees, with experts in sales and marketing, medical and regulatory affairs, quality and technical operations.  EUSA has ambitious growth plans, and intends to expand its presence in the US and broaden its portfolio through the strategic acquisition and in-licensing of specialty hospital products that it can also leverage through its existing European commercial infrastructure. 

EUSA is led by an experienced management team with a track record of building successful specialty pharmaceutical companies.  Chief Executive Bryan Morton founded Zeneus Pharma in 2003, which was subsequently sold to Cephalon for $360 million.  In 2006, he founded transatlantic specialty company EUSA Pharma, which was acquired by Jazz for approximately $700 million.  The newly-established EUSA will also be led by Chief Financial Officer Emma Johnson, who has extensive senior level pharmaceutical industry experience in both financial and commercial roles and was a senior member of the EUSA management team, and by Chief Technical Officer Paul Davisson who has significant experience gained at GlaxoSmithKline, Stryker and EUSA.

"We are delighted to launch EUSA Pharma as a new specialty pharmaceutical company.  With a profitable business from day one, a strong portfolio of products and a commercialization infrastructure and expertise already in place, we have an excellent strategic platform on which to build a world-class specialty business," said Bryan Morton, EUSA Pharma's Chief Executive. "We have ambitious growth plans, and with the support of our lead investor, Essex Woodlands, we have a great opportunity to expand our range of products through acquisition and in-licensing, making EUSA an attractive partner for companies seeking specialist transatlantic commercialization expertise."

Toby Sykes, Partner  at Essex Woodlands  added, "We are honoured and delighted to be supporting Bryan and his team for the second time.  Essex was the founding investor in the original EUSA Pharma in 2006 and supported the company through a number of acquisitions.  We look forward to working with this exceptional team again and to helping them achieve their ambitious growth plans for the company." 

About EUSA Pharma

Founded in March 2015, EUSA Pharma is a newly-established, profitable specialty pharmaceutical company with global reach.  The company has commercial operations in the US and Europe, and a wider distribution network in approximately 40 countries around the world.  Currently, EUSA has a portfolio of five approved and several named-patient specialty hospital products, and the company has ambitious plans to expand this through acquisition and in-licensing.  EUSA is led by an experienced management team with a strong record of building successful specialty pharmaceutical companies, and is supported by significant funding raised from leading life science investor Essex Woodlands. 

EUSA Pharma's products include: Caphosol® for the treatment of oral mucositis, a common and debilitating side-effect of radiation therapy and high-dose chemotherapy; Collatamp®, a surgical implant impregnated with the antibiotic gentamicin for the treatment and prevention of post-surgical acquired infection; Custodiol® solution for use in the preservation of organs for transplantation; Fomepizole® for the treatment of ethylene glycol poisoning; and Xenazine® for the treatment of movement disorders associated with Huntington's chorea.

For more information please visit http://www.eusapharma.com.

About Essex Woodlands

With $2.5 billion under management, Essex Woodlands is one of the largest and oldest growth equity firms pursuing investments in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services and healthcare information technology. Since its founding in 1985, Essex Woodlands has maintained its singular commitment to the healthcare industry and has been involved in the founding, investing and / or management of over 150 healthcare companies, ranging across sectors, stages and geography.  The team is comprised of 22 senior investment professionals with offices in Palo Alto, Houston, New York, London and Shanghai, China. For more information, please see http://www.ewhv.com. 

ContactsBryan Morton Chief Executive EUSA Pharma Tel: +44(0)330-5001140 Rob Budge RJB Communications Tel: +44(0)1865-760969 Mobile: +44(0)7710-741241

SOURCE EUSA Pharma