Almirall joins BIOMAP as a new partner to advance the field of inflammatory skin conditions

Almirall joins BIOMAP as a new partner to advance the field of inflammatory skin conditions

• BIOMAP is a European research project from the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) focused on the two most common inflammatory skin conditions: atopic dermatitis and psoriasis

• Based on clinical and molecular profiling, the project aims to improve understanding on patient subpopulations, disease mechanisms and outcomes, as well as to deliver biomarkers that identify disease trajectories and treatment response. Its objective is to have a broad impact on patient care and future therapies

• The company will provide biosignatures operating in the different stages of atopic dermatitis patients; coordinate bioanalysis of BIOMAP samples, and contribute its scientific, dermatological, and data analysis expertise to the project

BARCELONA, Spain. June 17^th, 2021 – Almirall S.A. (BME: ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health, has joined BIOMAP (Biomarkers in Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis), the first dermatology project of the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), to advance the field of the two most common inflammatory skin conditions and improve the lives of patients affected by them. The company will provide biosignatures operating in the different stages of atopic dermatitis patients (skin immune cell composition, skin transcriptome, and systemic biomarkers) and coordinate bioanalysis of BIOMAP samples.

Almirall will also participate in the project by contributing its scientific, dermatological, and data analysis expertise to help BIOMAP examine the underlying causes and mechanisms of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. The public-private consortium aims to shed new light on the underlying causes of both diseases, as well as the genetic and environmental factors that influence how a patient’s disease will progress and how well they will respond to a given treatment.

The IMI project will study data and samples from 50,000 patients, alongside healthy individuals, and perform advanced molecular investigations at the single cell level and in the tissue context with the aim to identify biomarkers for variations in disease outcome. Ultimately, BIOMAP wants to identify new sub-types of the diseases that will allow clinicians and patients to make better, more personalised decisions on treatments. 

Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are serious skin diseases that affect over 300 million people globally. By addressing key unmet needs in treating them, the partnership has the objective to have a broad impact on disease understanding, patient care and future therapies.  Almirall places its focus on Medical Dermatology and atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are two of its core skin disease areas. The company’s R&D efforts are geared towards providing new options for underserved patients who are struggling with symptoms that affect their wellbeing and quality of life.

“Almirall feels a deep sense of responsibility as a leading company in Medical Dermatology. We strongly believe that we have the opportunity to use our skills and expertise to tangibly improve the daily life of our patients”, states Thomas Huber, PhD, Research Director at Almirall. “Joining the BIOMAP project will allow us to work together to deepen our understanding of key inflammatory diseases and reinforce our commitment to addressing unmet needs and treating them”, he adds.

The BIOMAP project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No. 821511. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA.

About Almirall

Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patient’s needs through science to improve their lives.  Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: “Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life”. We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients in need. 

The company, founded in 1943 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange and is a member of the IBEX35 (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 77-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Currently, Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, through 13 subsidiaries, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2020 were 814.5 million euros.

For more information, please visit almirall.com