Who we are

Movetis is a rapidly growing European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel innovative drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases with high unmet need. The Company’s lead product Resolor® (prucalopride) has recently received marketing approval from the European Commission for the symptomatic treatment of chronic constipation in women in whom laxatives fail to provide adequate relief. Movetis expects the first launch of Resolor in Q1 2010.

Prucalopride is also being tested for use in a number of other indications including chronic constipation in males and children as well as opioid-induced constipation and post operative ileus.

Movetis is aiming to become a successful European specialty GI company based on novel drugs that address underserved elements of the GI market and will benefit patients globally. Movetis’ strategy to achieve this aim is to successfully commercialise Resolor by itself in selected EU markets, partner Resolor in other markets in Europe, grow prucalopride beyond its currently approved indication and advance its pipeline of GI drug candidates. The development of the Movetis pipeline will be via its own efforts or in combination with partners.

In the US and Europe, an estimated 200 million people have some form of GI disorder, making GI diseases an important area of pharmaceutical development. The GI space has a number of disease areas where there is a high unmet medical need and these are where Movetis is focusing much of its development resources. Drug candidates that Movetis is developing address GI disorders such as severe chronic constipation, ascites, paediatric reflux, and severe forms of GI motility disorders such as refractory GERD (Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease).

Movetis, a spin-off,  was founded in Belgium in November 2006 by senior managers and scientists of former Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson). As a result, the management and employees at Movetis have an extensive understanding and knowledge of the GI space.

Movetis’ senior management team has an established track record in discovering, developing and launching new drugs, particularly in the GI space. Moreover, as a result of the assets that it inherited from Johnson & Johnson when it was formed, the Company currently has a broad and novel portfolio of product candidates in development that address a number of GI indications where there is a clear need for improved therapy.

Movetis is headquartered in Turnout, Belgium and currently has 37 staff.

Broad and novel GI pipeline

In addition to its lead product Resolor, Movetis has a broad and novel portfolio of GI products candidates at different stages of development. M0002 is in Phase II trials to treat ascites, an accumulation of fluid caused by liver malfunction, while M0003 is entering Phase II development for symptomatic treatment of heartburn and regurgitation in patients refractory to PPIs, and paediatric reflux.

Movetis also has two prioritised compounds out of its preclinical portfolio which results from the Company’s close partnerships with the Universities of Ghent, Leuven and Rotterdam. Movetis is also developing two compound libraries with the support of Flemish government (IWT) grants.

Our history

Movetis N.V. was founded in November 2006 as a spin-off of Johnson & Johnson. Movetis secured €60,8 million of funding in December 2006 from major European and US venture capital investors (Sofinnova Partners; Life Sciences Partners; Sofinnova Ventures, KBC GIMV; Quest for Growth; BIP) including €11.8 million from Johnson & Johnson. At the same time it entered into an intellectual property and rights transfer and license agreement with Johnson & Johnson that secured the rights to its current product portfolio. The Company has also received several grants totalling €3.45 million from the Flemish government to kick start its discovery efforts in collaboration with premier academic partners in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Movetis continues to have good relations with Johnson & Johnson and has an ongoing dialogue about in-licensing further products which could be of value in the treatment of GI disease.