Movetis

About Movetis

Movetis NV was a Belgian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) conditions with high unmet medical needs. Founded in November 2006, the company originated as a spin-off from Johnson & Johnson, with its portfolio licensed from Janssen Pharmaceutica and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, both J&J companies. The founding team included Dirk Reyn, Staf Van Reet, Jan Schuurkes, and Remi Van den Broeck, and was supported by venture capital firms such as Sofinnova Partners.

The company's business model centered on advancing and marketing a pipeline of GI-focused products. Its flagship product was Resolor (prucalopride), a selective, high-affinity 5-HT4 receptor agonist designed to treat chronic constipation by targeting impaired gut motility. Resolor gained marketing authorization in the European Union and other European countries for the symptomatic treatment of chronic constipation in women for whom laxatives do not provide adequate relief. Movetis established its own commercial operations in key European markets like Germany and the UK and sought partnerships for other regions.

Beyond Resolor, Movetis had a broader portfolio that included two products in Phase 2 clinical development and several pre-clinical compounds. These pipeline candidates addressed other significant GI conditions such as ascites (fluid accumulation from liver malfunction), pediatric reflux, and severe forms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A significant milestone for Movetis was its successful Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the NYSE Euronext in December 2009. Less than a year later, in August 2010, Shire plc announced its intention to acquire Movetis for approximately €428 million. The acquisition was finalized in November 2010, leading to Movetis' delisting from the Euronext Brussels stock exchange and its integration into Shire's GI business unit.