UCB SA - BNP Paribas Fortis

1. SUMMARY
PART VI: DESCRIPTION OF ISSUER
The UCB Group is a global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Brussels (Belgium). The
UCB Group develops and markets human pharmaceutical products for the treatment of severe central
nervous system (or CNS) and immunology disorders.
The strategy of the UCB Group is driven by its ambition to become a leading global next generation
biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of severe diseases. The UCB Group differentiates
itself by focusing on a patient-driven approach to developing treatments for a range of severe CNS and
immunology disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, restless leg syndrome, Crohn’s disease
and rheumatoid arthritis. In recent years the UCB Group has become more streamlined to enable it to
focus on these core areas of CNS and immunology treatment, with other areas, such as oncology being
developed in concert with partners. UCB also has a successful primary care business and it is dedicated
to optimizing its value. This, together with a more focused investment strategy across products and
markets, has simplified the organisation, providing a basis to improve competitiveness.
The key marketed products of the UCB Group are Vimpat®, Neupro® and Keppra® (including
Keppra®XR) for CNS diseases. For immunology, the key marketed product is Cimzia®. Other
significant marketed products include Zyrtec®, Xyzal®, Tussionex®, venlafaxine, Nootropil®,
Innovair® and MetadateCD. While Keppra® lost exclusivity in the U.S. at the end of 2008, the
generic erosion has been within the normal pattern of generic erosion of similar products.
The currently marketed products of the UCB Group are anticipated to be supplemented by a research
and development pipeline focusing on the following CNS diseases: epilepsy, diabetic neuropathic pain,
restless leg syndrome, advanced Parkinson’s disease and fibromyalgia. Research and development is
also sustained in respect of the following immunology disorders: Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis,
systemic lupus erythematosus, bone loss disorders and other autoimmune diseases. Through its
partnership with Pfizer, the Issuer also participates in the over-active bladder disease area, but the Issuer
is not actively pursuing research and development in this area. The UCB Group believes that the
concentration of its research and development efforts on a limited range of severe diseases increases the
likelihood of significant, high-value innovations. Research at the UCB Group has two Centres of
Excellence which are located in Slough (United Kingdom) and Braine-l’Alleud (Belgium). The UCB
Group invested €767 million in research and development expenditure in 2008. For the six months
ending 30 June 2009 research and development expenditure of the UCB Group amounted to €323
million.
The principal geographic markets of the UCB Group are: Europe with 47 per cent. of sales, the United
States with 40 per cent. of sales, and the rest of the world contributing the remaining 13 per cent. of
sales of the UCB Group in 2008. Total net sales in 2008 were of €3,027 million.
Employing approximately 9,780 people and operating in more than forty countries, the UCB Group
generated revenues of €3.6 billion in 2008 with underlying profitability (recurring EBITDA) reaching
€733 million. For the first half of 2009, these numbers amounted to €1,596 million and €363 million,
respectively.
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A4 – 6.1
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