Celltech acquires German sales and marketing firm Thiemann for $44.6 mill

The UK's largest biotechnology firm, Celltech Group, has achieved itsintended aim of gaining a stronger foothold in the all-important German pharmaceutical market (Marketletter June 18) with the acquisition of Thiemann SA, the owner of Thiemann Arzneimittel GmbH, for a total of 97.1 million Deutschemarks ($44.6 million). Celltech says it will fund the purchase from its existing cash reserves which, at June 30, amounted to L88.1 million ($128.5 million).

Pointing out that Thiemann will provide a sales and marketing capability in Germany for Celltech's key pipeline products, such as CDP 870 for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, and an infrastructure from which field forces in neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland could be supported, the company adds that it will increase the group's attractiveness as a global marketing partner.

"We were particularly impressed by the quality of Thiemann's management and its complementary therapeutic focus," said Celltech chief executive Peter Fellner. "We see this as a solid base upon which to build a specialist sales and marketing organization, enabling us to maximize revenues from the marketing or co-marketing of key Celltech pipeline products in Germany," he added.