History
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1872
Caspar Friedrich Hausmann founds a pharmacy in St Gallen, Switzerland pioneering iron products.
1927
Sixteen pharmacists establish a joint purchasing centre in Western Switzerland, forming the basis of the future Galenica Ltd.
1944
Pharmacist René Grosclaude founds Vifor Ltd. producing non-prescription medicines.
1952
Ferrum Hausmann, intravenous iron product, developed by Laboratorien Hausmann AG is first introduced in Switzerland. This brand later develops into Venofer®.
1964
Iron (III) polymaltose complex, the future Maltofer®, is introduced in the market.
1977
Galenica acquires Vifor Ltd., taking on their first manufacturing capability.
1983
Galenica acquires Laboratorien Hausmann AG.
1991
Vifor (International) Ltd. is founded and takes over the work of Laboratorien Hausmann in developing new iron products.
1997
Vifor Ltd. invests in new product development for its over-the-counter drugs to support international growth.
2000
FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approves intravenous iron treatment for the treatment of haemodialysisdependent CKD patients in the US market.
2007
Ferinject® receives regulatory approval in Switzerland and 18 EU countries.
2008
Foundation of Vifor Pharma through the acquisition of Aspreva Pharmaceutical Corporation and integration of Vifor Ltd. and Vifor (International) Ltd.
2009
Acquisition of OM Pharma, a specialist Swiss biotechnology and pharmaceutical company.
2010/2011
Galenica, (55%) and Fresenius Medical Care (45%) form Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, a new company operating in nephrology.
2013
Injectafer® (US brand name of Ferinject®) receives US FDA approval for Iron Deficiency Anaemia treatment.
Velphoro® receives US FDA approval for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients on dialysis.
2014
Velphoro® receives EU marketing authorisation.
Galenica lays foundation for Vifor Pharma to become a stand-alone global specialty pharma company.
2015
Velphoro® receives Swissmedic approval.
Veltassa® receives US FDA approval for the treatment of hyperkalemia.
2016
Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma and OPKO Health Enter into Agreement for OPKO’s RAYALDEE®.
Vifor Pharma Licenses Rights to Commercialize ChemoCentryx’s Orally-Administered Complement 5aR Inhibitor CCX168 for Orphan and Rare Renal Diseases in Europe and Certain Other Major Markets.
ESC guidelines recommend Ferinject®.
Vifor Pharma expands ESA product portfolio with rights to commercialise Pfizer’s proposed epoetin alfa biosimilar, Retacrit™, in the US dialysis market.
The US biopharmaceutical company Relypsa was acquired by Galenica and integrated into Vifor Pharma, further strengthening Vifor Pharma’s product Portfolio.
Vifor Pharma and ChemoCentryx Announce Expansion of Kidney Health Alliance to Include CCX140 to Treat Renal Diseases.
2017
Vifor Pharma and ChemoCentryx announce expansion of Avacopan agreement for Rare Renal Diseases.
Galenica Santé IPO listed on SIX, Galenica Group becomes Vifor Pharma Group.
Vifor Pharma and Akebia announce exclusive license agreement to provide Vadadustat to Fresenius Medical Care in the U.S. upon FDA approval.
Kissei to Market Avacopan in Japan for Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma.
European Commission approves marketing authorisation for Veltassa®.
Vifor Pharma expands exclusive license agreement for the commercialisation of Mircera® in the US.