Altana Calls Trumps

The success of gastrointestinal drug pantoprazole has turned mid-sized Altana into one of Europe's fastest growing pharmaceutical companies. By re-investing the proceeds from pantoprazole into its own R&D, Altana now has two late-stage follow-ons--ciclesonide and roflumilast--with similar potential to pantoprazole. Rather than simply out-licensing these compounds to larger players, Altana wants a more active role alongside its partners in marketing and selling its own drugs, hoping thereby to establish itself internationally.