BioForward is reaching out to members to highlight their organizations through a new member profile feature to tell more of their stories. Horizon agreed to be interviewed as a part of our efforts to heighten the awareness of our region and integrated health solutions approach.
About your organization:
Horizon is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of medicines that address critical needs for people impacted by rare, autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. Horizon’s global headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland and its U.S. headquarters is in Deerfield, lL. The company also has offices in Chicago, IL; South San Francisco, CA; Washington, D.C.; Gaithersburg, MD; Rockville, MD and Mannheim, Germany.
What do you find valuable about being a member of BioForward Wisconsin?
BioForward Wisconsin is a critical voice for the biopharmaceutical industry in Madison and throughout the state. We are excited to collaborate and help amplify the importance of a growing and thriving biopharmaceutical industry in the state of Wisconsin.
What are the key areas of or achievements by your organization that are impacting the state of Wisconsin and the overall biohealth industry?
Horizon’s US headquarters is in Deerfield, IL so we are committed to building a strong and vibrant biopharmaceutical hub in the Upper Midwest. Over the past 10 years, Horizon has grown from 162 employees to more than 1,700. Our growth – especially in the last 18 months – has been easy to track not just by the numbers but by the list of major achievements:
- The highly successful launch of TEPEZZA in 2020.
- The new U.S. headquarters in Deerfield and a new global headquarters in progress in Dublin.
- The acquisitions of Curzion Pharmaceuticals and Viela Bio to expand the Horizon pipeline and boost R&D expertise.
- The recent purchase of a manufacturing facility in Waterford, Ireland, for in-house production of some Horizon medicines.
- The start of global expansion into Japan, Europe, and other parts of the world.
Our mission to deliver medicines for rare, autoimmune, and severe inflammatory diseases and provide compassionate support comes from our strong and simple philosophy to make a meaningful difference for patients and communities in need. We believe science and compassion must work together to transform lives.
What about the future of research, medical, technological innovation excites you the most?
Many of us at Horizon know what it’s like to be a caregiver or a patient who faces a disease that isn’t widely understood. When only five percent of the 7,000 known rare diseases have a treatment, we know we must think differently about research and development so we can deliver in new ways for the patients and communities we serve. Our willingness to take calculated risks allows us to deliver new medicines for patients with rare, autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases.
We apply extensive research experience to target, design and execute R&D programs to deliver medicines that will have a profound impact on underserved patients who don’t have many, if any, options.
Our approach allows us to develop breakthrough treatments and maximize the potential of medicines under our care.
Why Wisconsin? What does Wisconsin (and/or Madison/Milwaukee) offer for your company and/or your/its families?
Wisconsin has a very robust and dynamic research and biohealth industry sector. From the cutting-edge research being done at some of the country’s leading research institutions to the innovation and collaboration being done in the state’s health care systems and the state’s favorable business climate, Wisconsin provides a great opportunity for growth.
What would you recommend about or say to others about Wisconsin’s biohealth industry and research institutions?
Wisconsin provides a great environment for innovation and collaboration with other industry partners, as well as with the world-class public and private sector research institutions.
What is one thing others may not know about your organization?
At Horizon, we put patients first. We’re committed to improving lives by identifying and bringing to market medicines that address unmet medical needs. But our commitment extends beyond our medicines. At our core, we believe science and compassion must work together to transform lives. We actively partner with multiple organizations to raise awareness for many underrepresented diseases and to advocate on behalf of patients and their communities. We engage in a broad range of community outreach to give back, lift up and inspire future generations. And, we strive to provide the education.
