Serono
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals |
| Predecessor | Serono Pharmacological Institute |
| Founded | 1 January 1906 in Rome, Italy |
| Founder | Cesare Serono |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Fate | Acquired by Merck KGaA |
| Successor | Merck Serono (merged entity) |
| Headquarters | Geneva , Switzerland |
Area served | Worldwide (44 countries) |
Key people | Piero Donini (noted for technique development) |
| Products | Biotechnology products in neurology, reproductive health, dermatology, growth and metabolism |
Number of employees | 4750+ (2005) |
Serono was a biotechnology firm based in Geneva, Switzerland, which was acquired by the German pharmaceutical corporation Merck in 2006. The company originated as the Serono Pharmacological Institute, established by Cesare Serono in 1906 in Rome, Italy. A significant milestone was achieved through Dr. Piero Donini’s technique for isolating urinary gonadotropins. Serono became a corporate entity in 1987, and its parent company, initially known as Ares-Serono S.A., adopted the name Serono S.A. in May 2000.
Serono specialized in developing and distributing medications across several fields including reproductive health, multiple sclerosis, growth and metabolism, as well as dermatology. Its portfolio consisted of eight biotechnology products focusing on four primary therapeutic sectors: neurology (specifically relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis), reproductive health (infertility therapies), dermatology (biologic treatments for moderate-to-severe psoriasis within Europe), and growth and metabolism (addressing HIV-related wasting and growth disorders).
In addition, the company engaged in research related to oncology and autoimmune diseases. Following its acquisition of GBRI from GlaxoWelcome in 1997—leading to the creation of the Geneva-based SPRI research institute—and through the spin-off entity Manteia Predictive Medicine, Serono played a role in advancing the commercialization of cutting-edge massive parallel sequencing technologies.
Sale to Merck KGaA
In September 2006, Merck KGaA purchased a 36% stake in Serono for €10.6 billion, offering CHF 1,100 per share. The resulting organization, formed by the integration of Serono with Merck’s Ethicals division, was branded as Merck Serono, with headquarters located in Geneva at the new Serono premises. Due to trademark conflicts with Merck & Co./MSD, the US branch near Boston was renamed EMD Serono. The merger officially commenced in January 2007 after obtaining regulatory clearances; until then, both companies continued independent operations. The unified enterprise rivaled other major biotechnology companies in size. In 2011, the headquarters relocated from Geneva to Darmstadt, Germany, which led to substantial workforce reductions among employees based in Geneva.
Facilities
Serono maintained operations across 44 countries, with manufacturing plants situated in eight nations and sales activities spanning more than 90 countries globally. Principal production sites were located in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and France; an Israeli manufacturing facility was shut down in 2004 due to outdated infrastructure. Research and development centers were positioned in Geneva, Switzerland, Boston, USA, and Ivrea, Italy. The company employed upwards of 4,750 staff members and recorded global revenues amounting to USD 2,586.4 million in 2005. At that time, Serono’s portfolio included eight biotechnology products alongside over 25 projects progressing through preclinical and clinical development phases.
In 2006, Serono relocated its headquarters and Geneva-based research operations to the newly established Horizon Secheron campus. This site and headquarters were subsequently closed by Merck KGaA in 2013, with ownership of the building reverting to the Bertarelli family.
Lawsuit
In 2005, Serono reached a $704 million settlement agreement with the United States Department of Justice concerning accusations of illicit promotion of the drug Serostim for unapproved uses and unlawful kickbacks breaching the False Claims Act. This settlement stands as the ninth largest pharmaceutical resolution recorded in U.S. legal history.
Fertility LifeLines
Fertility LifeLines was provided by Serono as a complimentary and confidential source of information tailored for individuals facing infertility.
See also
- Articles with short description
- Merck Group
- Biotechnology companies of Switzerland
- Pharmaceutical companies of Switzerland
- Defunct companies of Switzerland
- Pharmaceutical companies established in 1906
- Manufacturing companies based in Geneva
- Pharmaceutical companies disestablished in 2006
- Biotechnology companies disestablished in 2006
- 2006 mergers and acquisitions
- Swiss companies established in 1906
- Italian companies established in 1906
- Swiss companies disestablished in 2006