Actelion

Actelion (now Jannsen Pulmonary Hypertension) was established to develop treatments for orphan diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, a severe form of high blood pressure that damages the heart and can contribute to heart failure. Up to 120 million people worldwide are currently receiving treatment for the condition¹, with Actelion’s flagship drug Tracleer (bosentan) helping to improve the health and extend the life of millions of patients.

Venture capital investment helped accelerate Actelion’s development and set it on the path to profitability. The Swiss business floated in Zurich in 2000 at a valuation of approximately CHF3.1bn, making it Europe’s largest biotech listing at the time², and achieved profitability the following year. Basel-based Actelion was subsequently acquired by US healthcare group Johnson & Johnson at a valuation of $30 billion, becoming the sixth pillar in the Janssen pharma arm, while Actelion’s drug development arm spun out to create a new business, Idorsia³.