Ipsen

The story begins in 1929 with Henri Beaufour, a French doctor who founded the Laboratoires Beaufour in Dreux. His initial focus was on developing and selling a treatment for digestive disorders. This marked the humble beginnings of what would become a global biopharmaceutical company. For decades, the company remained a family-run business, steadily growing its presence within France. A pivotal moment arrived in 1954 with the launch of Smecta, a treatment for diarrhea, which became a commercial success and a cornerstone of the company's growth. The company began its international expansion in the 1970s. In 1982, the various family entities were consolidated under a single holding company, and the name was changed to Ipsen, an anagram of 'Spien', the family's home village. The company's trajectory shifted significantly in the following decades. It strategically focused on specialty care, targeting diseases in areas like oncology, neuroscience, and rare diseases. This strategic pivot was followed by a major financial milestone: Ipsen's Initial Public Offering on the Euronext Paris in 2005. This event provided the capital for further expansion and acquisitions, solidifying its position in the competitive pharmaceutical landscape. Today, Ipsen continues to operate as a global biopharmaceutical company, driven by its initial focus on addressing unmet medical needs.