UCB

Overview

UCB is a Belgium-headquartered global biopharmaceutical company focused on severe diseases, with core therapeutic areas in neurology and immunology, and it reports its activities as a single biopharmaceuticals segment.[1][2] The company says its purpose is to “elevate lives through our medicines” by developing treatments intended to improve quality of life for people living with severe diseases.[3] Its portfolio includes medicines such as BIMZELX, FINTEPLA, RYSTIGGO, ZILBRYSQ, CIMZIA, BRIVIACT, KEPPRA and VIMPAT, which help define its commercial presence in specialty biopharma.[4][5]

UCB combines its marketed medicines business with significant investment in biopharmaceutical research and development, supported by key hubs in Europe, the U.K., the U.S. and Japan.[6][7] From its headquarters in Belgium, the company operates in 36 countries and had 9,378 employees in 2024.[8] Revenue in 2024 was about €6.15 billion, indicating a sizable global scale.[9] [1]+8

Products & services

UCB’s marketed product portfolio is centered on prescription medicines in immunology and neurology. In immunology, BIMZELX (bimekizumab) is a dual IL-17A/IL-17F inhibitor used in plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa; it represented about 10.8% of 2024 net sales.[10][11] CIMZIA (certolizumab pegol) is a TNF-targeted biologic for inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and axial spondyloarthritis, and was UCB’s largest product at about 36.2% of 2024 net sales.[12][13] In rare immunology, RYSTIGGO (rozanolixizumab) is an add-on treatment for generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody positive, contributing about 3.6% of 2024 net sales, while ZILBRYSQ (zilucoplan) is a once-daily subcutaneous targeted C5 complement inhibitor for anti-AChR positive generalized myasthenia gravis, contributing about 1.3%.[14]+3

In neurology, BRIVIACT (brivaracetam) is an anti-seizure medicine for partial-onset seizures in patients aged 1 month and older and accounted for about 12.2% of 2024 net sales.[18][19] KEPPRA (levetiracetam) and VIMPAT (lacosamide) are established epilepsy products for partial-onset seizures, with KEPPRA contributing about 10.4% and VIMPAT about 5.8% of 2024 net sales.[20]+3 FINTEPLA (fenfluramine) is an oral solution for seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients aged 2 years and older, representing about 6.1% of 2024 net sales, and NAYZILAM (midazolam) is a nasal spray for the acute treatment of seizure clusters in epilepsy patients aged 12 years and older, representing about 2.2%.[24]+3

Beyond medicines, UCB also offers patient-support services designed around treatment access, affordability and adherence. Its programs include tailored support with coordinators, UCBCares support for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals, and patient-assistance offerings that can provide certain medicines at no cost for eligible patients.[28]+3 [10]+21

Geographic presence

UCB is headquartered in Belgium, with its registered office at 60 Allée de la Recherche, B-1070 Brussels, and it states that it operates in 36 countries worldwide.[8][32] Its main site footprint includes Brussels, Braine-l’Alleud and Leuven in Belgium, Monheim in Germany, and Tokyo and Saitama in Japan.[7] UCB also identifies key R&D hubs across Europe, the U.K., the U.S. and Japan, while its manufacturing network is concentrated in Braine-l’Alleud (Belgium), Bulle (Switzerland) and Saitama (Japan).[6]+2

Geographically, sales are led by the U.S., which accounted for €3,036 million of net sales, followed by Europe at €1,582 million, International markets at €718 million, and Japan at €257 million, against total net sales of €5,613 million.[35] On that basis, the U.S. represented about 54% of net sales, Europe about 28%, International markets about 13%, and Japan about 5%.[35] Within International markets, China was identified as the largest single market at €143 million.[36]

UCB reported 9,378 employees worldwide, with 6,241 in Europe, 1,908 in the U.S. and 1,229 in intercontinental markets.[37][38] The country breakdown included 3,191 employees in Belgium, 835 in the U.K., 675 in Switzerland, 543 in Germany, 607 in Japan and 136 in China, with 997 in other European countries and 486 in other intercontinental countries.[38] UCB’s office and entity footprint extends across a broad set of markets in Europe and beyond, including countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the U.K. and the U.S.[39]+2 [8]+12

Business segments

UCB’s official financial reporting shows a single operating and reportable segment, Biopharmaceuticals; management reviews performance and allocates resources on a company-wide basis, so there is no formally reported split by therapeutic area or business line. On that basis, 100% of the group is reported within one segment. UCB discusses neurology and immunology as core therapeutic focus areas, but these are strategic focus areas rather than separate reportable segments.[42]+2

The main alternative breakdown disclosed is geography. In 2024, net sales before hedging were €5.593 billion, with the U.S. contributing 54.3%, Europe 28.3%, Japan 4.6%, and international markets 12.8%; total net sales were €5.613 billion after €19 million of designated hedges reclassified to net sales.[35] Product mix provides another indicator of business focus, although it is not segment reporting: CIMZIA represented 36.2% of 2024 net sales, BRIVIACT 12.2%, BIMZELX 10.8%, KEPPRA 10.4%, FINTEPLA 6.1%, VIMPAT 5.9%, RYSTIGGO 3.6%, NAYZILAM 2.2%, EVENITY 1.8%, ZILBRYSQ 1.3%, and other products 9.2%.[45] [42]+4

Company history

UCB was founded in Brussels in 1928 by Emmanuel Janssen. In the decades that followed, it expanded into the United States in the 1930s, made its first scientific discoveries in the 1950s, advanced biotechnology research in the 1960s, and opened a major facility at Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium, in 1972. Its later development included the registration of a new antihistamine in the 1980s and the launch of an antiepileptic medicine in the 1990s, which helped drive further international growth.[46][47]

In the 2000s, UCB transformed itself into a more focused biopharmaceutical company through major acquisitions, including its 2004 takeover of Celltech and its 2006-2007 acquisition of Schwarz Pharma. Leadership continuity in the following decade included Jean-Christophe Tellier, who joined UCB in 2011 and was appointed CEO in 2015.[48]+3 [51]+5

Sources

• UCB — Full financial report (2024 Y)
  36 citations

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• UCB — Press release (2024 Y)[9]
• ucb.com[11]
• www.ucb.com[13]
• www.ucb.com[15]
• www.ucb.com[17]
• www.ucb.com[19]
• www.ucb.com[21]
• www.ucb.com[23]
• www.ucb.com[25]
• www.ucb.com[27]
• www.ucb-usa.com[46]
• www.ucb.com.mx[47]
• www.sec.gov[48]
• www.globenewswire.com[49]
• www.globenewswire.com[50]