Finox Biotech

About Finox Biotech

Finox Biotech, established in Switzerland in 2007 by Willy Michel, operates as a biopharmaceutical company with a dedicated focus on the reproductive medicine market. The company carved a niche by concentrating exclusively on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing fertility treatments, specifically in the biosimilar segment. Its business model centers on creating cost-effective alternatives to originator biologics whose patents have expired, thereby increasing patient access to fertility therapies.

The company's landmark achievement was the development and launch of Bemfola®, a biosimilar to Merck Serono's Gonal-f®. Bemfola contains follitropin alfa, a recombinant-human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (r-hFSH) produced using recombinant DNA technology, which is critical for stimulating follicular development in women undergoing treatment for infertility. The product gained European marketing authorization in May 2014, becoming the first r-hFSH biosimilar launched in Europe. A key feature of Bemfola is its patient-centric delivery system: a single-use, disposable injector pen designed for simple, once-a-day self-administration, enhancing ease of use and dosage compliance. The product is available in various dosage forms, including 75, 150, 225, 300, and 450 IU.

Finox Biotech's trajectory culminated in a significant strategic event in June 2016, when it was acquired by the Hungarian multinational pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter Plc for approximately $194 million (CHF 190 million). This acquisition integrated Finox into Gedeon Richter's expanding Women's Healthcare franchise, leveraging Finox's specialized expertise and its established market presence for Bemfola®, which was already sold in over 20 countries. The transaction provided Gedeon Richter with the global rights for Bemfola, excluding the US rights, which remained with the founder. Since the acquisition, Finox has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary, continuing its focus within the broader structure of its parent company.