Servier, an independent, international pharmaceutical company, has begun development of its future Research Institute in the Paris-Saclay cluster. The new Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute will house all of the Group’s research activities located in France by 2022.
“It is with great joy and pride to lay the foundation stone of the future Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute, within this innovative and dynamic ecosystem,” said Olivier Laureau, president of Servier, at a June 19th ceremony. “This milestone further exemplifies the Group’s ongoing commitment to the discovery of innovative therapeutic solutions for patients “By combining the research activities of our four French sites into a single, unique, and state-of-the-art center in Paris-Saclay, the Servier group is continuing to support France while attracting researchers from around the world.”
At its new Research Institute, the Servier group will work alongside other scientific organizations, providing a natural opportunity for collaboration and potential innovation. Paris-Saclay is one of the world’s top 8 innovation clusters and is home to 40% of all industrial R&D in the Paris region.
The Servier Group will be able to rely on the expertise of CentraleSupélec, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the French National Center for Scientific Research, Paris-Sud University, the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the Ecole Polytechnique, some of which have already been working with the Group for several years.
“The laying of the first stone of the new Servier Research Institute is an embodiment of the collaboration between the Paris-Saclay Public Development and the Servier group,” explained Philippe Van de Maele, managing director of Paris-Saclay Public Development (EPAPS). “We are delighted to welcome the Servier group to our cluster, whose presence will strengthen the potential for innovation and excellence of the Paris-Saclay site. The synergies that will be created between the major players, thanks to the Servier group’s presence, will make France an even more attractive prospect in terms of scientific and medical innovation.”
Consolidation Means Collaboration
The Servier Group has nearly 2,900 employees working in research and development around the globe. The future Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute will, at a single site, house 600 researchers who are currently spread across four locations in France (Croissy-sur- Seine, Suresnes, Orléans, and Gidy). By gathering its French research activities within a single research center, Servier will be able to accelerate the decision-making process, explore new ways of working, share knowledge more efficiently, disseminate best practices, and encourage partnerships, according to the company.
Research will be boosted further by the creation of a one-of-a-kind incubator in France, at the Research Institute. It will be home to the most innovative start-ups in the medical sector, which will be able not only to develop their projects independently, but also to share their expertise with Servier teams to make the collaboration even more dynamic. Covering 1,850 sq. m. (19,900 sq. ft.), this innovation hub will offer 80 workstations for start-ups, including fully equipped laboratories, collaborative areas, and office space.
The new facility will also speed up research efforts, especially in oncology, which is one of Servier’s strategic priorities and a key branch of its therapeutic research. Currently, 700 employees in 50 countries are working to develop innovative oncology therapeutic solutions. Over the next two years, oncology will account for half of the Group’s R&D budget. Five cancer treatments are available, so far, and the Servier Group is working to develop 12 drug candidates. Servier has signed 21 partnership agreements with academic institutions, as well as industrial partners and biotech companies in this therapeutic area.
“This new Research Institute is a tremendous tool that will make the Servier Group even more effective at addressing the unmet needs of patients,” says Claude Bertrand, executive vice president of R&D at Servier. “By uniting our experts at what will become the Group’s largest research center, we can ensure an even faster exploration of new therapeutic pathways, while benefiting from the cutting-edge knowledge and experience offered by one of the most dynamic research environments available, where creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship are both encouraged and valued.”
