UCB France

What UCB France does

UCB France is the French subsidiary of UCB SA, a Brussels-headquartered global biopharmaceutical company founded in 1928 and publicly listed on Euronext Brussels. UCB France operates through UCB Pharma SAS (registered in Nanterre) and UCB Pharma France S.A., with offices in Courbevoie and Colombes, and is led by Slimane Bouyakoub as Président d'UCB France. The entity distributes a portfolio of prescription pharmaceutical products in three therapeutic areas: neurology (Briviact, Keppra, Neupro, Vimpat, Xyrem, Fintepla for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and narcolepsy), immunology (Cimzia, Bimzelx, Evenity for inflammatory conditions and osteoporosis), and rare diseases (Zilbrysq, Rystiggo for generalized myasthenia gravis), alongside legacy products in allergy and cognitive indications (Atarax, Nootropyl, Xyzall, Zyrtec). UCB France is led by Slimane Bouyakoub, with the local entity employing 21 staff focused on marketing and distribution.

The company's commercial model in France operates through regulated pharmaceutical supply chains: hospital pharmacy distribution for specialty and rare-disease medications with risk management programs (Bimzelx, Cimzia, Rystiggo, Zilbrysq), retail pharmacy distribution for neurology medications (Keppra, Vimpat, Briviact, Neupro), and listing on the French public medication database for reimbursement and pricing. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales targeting neurologists, rheumatologists, psychiatrists, hospital pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals through medical detail visits, congress participation, and continuous medical education, supplemented by direct patient engagement via ucbcares.fr and active social media channels. Revenue is generated through prescription pharmaceutical product sales, with pricing set by French regulatory authorities rather than market-based mechanisms. UCB France operates under the parent group's Patient Value Strategy (PVS), with the broader UCB Group generating €6.152 billion in FY2024 revenue across 36 countries with 9,378 employees worldwide.

Name

UCB France

Legal name

UCB Pharma SAS

Website

https://ucb-france.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UCB France is the French subsidiary of Belgian biopharmaceutical group UCB SA, distributing prescription medications in neurology, immunology, and rare diseases through hospital and retail pharmacy channels, targeting specialists and healthcare professionals in France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD), Specialty Care Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Prescription pharmaceuticals
• Neurology medications
• Immunology treatments
• Rare disease therapies
• Biopharmaceutical products

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: UCB generates revenue through the sale of prescription pharmaceutical products for neurological and immunological conditions, including epilepsy treatments (Keppra, Vimpat, Briviact, Fintepla), Parkinson's disease medications (Neupro), immunology drugs (Cimzia, Bimzelx, Evenity), and rare disease treatments (Rystiggo, Zilbrysq)

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UCB France develops, markets, and distributes prescription pharmaceutical products for severe neurological and immunological diseases in the French market. Its portfolio spans epilepsy treatments (Keppra, Vimpat, Briviact, Fintepla), Parkinson's disease therapy (Neupro), narcolepsy medication (Xyrem), immunology treatments for inflammatory conditions (Cimzia, Bimzelx) and osteoporosis (Evenity), rare disease therapies for myasthenia gravis (Rystiggo, Zilbrysq), and additional antihistamine and nootropic products. The company distributes these medicines through hospital and retail pharmacy channels under French regulatory oversight.

Product overview

UCB France is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in neurology and immunology medications. The product portfolio includes three immunology medications (Cimzia®, Bimzelx®, Evenity®), six neurology medications (Briviact®, Keppra®, Neupro®, Vimpat®, Xyrem®, Fintepla®), two rare disease medications (Zilbrysq®, Rystiggo® for myasthenia gravis), and several other medications including antihistamines (Atarax®, Xyzall®, Zyrtec®, Zyrtecset®) and nootropics (Nootropyl®). The company focuses on developing differentiated solutions for patients with severe diseases, with particular emphasis on epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and inflammatory conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cimzia (certolizumab pegol): Immunology medication for inflammatory conditions
• Briviact (brivaracetam)
• Keppra (lévétiracétam)
• Neupro (rotigotine)
• Vimpat (lacosamide)
• Xyrem (oxybate de sodium)
• Fintepla (fenfluramine)
• Evenity (romosozumab)
• Bimzelx (bimekizumab)
• Zilbrysq (zilucoplan)
• Rystiggo (rozanolixizumab)
• Atarax (hydroxyzine)
• Nootropyl (piracetam)
• Xyzall (lévocétirizine)
• Zyrtec (cétirizine)

Products and services

• Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) A tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitor for immunology conditions, available as solution for injection in pre-filled syringe and pre-filled pen. Used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
• Bimzelx (bimekizumab) A monoclonal antibody for immunology conditions, available in 160mg and 320mg formulations as solution for injection in pre-filled syringe and pre-filled pen. Indicated for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
• Evenity (romosozumab) A sclerostin inhibitor for osteoporosis treatment, available as 105mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe.
• Briviact (brivaracetam) An antiepileptic medication available in multiple formulations: 10mg, 25mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg film-coated tablets; 10mg/ml oral solution; and 10mg/ml solution for injection/perfusion.
• Keppra (levetiracetam) An antiepileptic medication available in multiple formulations: 250mg, 500mg, and 1000mg film-coated tablets; 100mg/ml oral solution; and 100mg/ml solution for dilution for perfusion.
• Neupro (rotigotine) A transdermal patch for Parkinson's disease, available in 2mg/24h, 4mg/24h, 6mg/24h, and 8mg/24h strengths.
• Vimpat (lacosamide) An antiepileptic medication available in multiple formulations: 50mg, 100mg, 150mg, and 200mg film-coated tablets; 10mg/ml solution for perfusion; and 10mg/ml syrup.
• Xyrem (sodium oxybate) A 500mg/ml oral solution for narcolepsy with cataplexy, subject to a risk management plan with education program for prescribers and patients.
• Fintepla (fenfluramine) A 2.2mg/ml oral solution for epilepsy, subject to a controlled access program requiring prescriber authorization and regular cardiac monitoring.
• Zilbrysq (zilucoplan) A complement inhibitor for myasthenia gravis, available in 16.6mg, 23mg, and 32.4mg pre-filled syringe solutions with controlled access program and meningococcal infection risk mitigation.
• Rystiggo (rozanolixizumab) A 140mg injectable solution for myasthenia gravis, included on the supplemental list for hospital use with self-injection guidance available.
• Atarax (hydroxyzine dihydrochloride) An antihistamine available in 2mg/ml syrup and 25mg film-coated scored tablet formulations, indicated for anxiety and allergies.
• Nootropyl (piracetam) A nootropic agent available as 3g/15ml solution for injection in ampoules, indicated for cognitive disorders.
• Xyzall (levocetirizine dihydrochloride) A second-generation antihistamine available in 5mg film-coated tablet formulation, indicated for allergies.
• Zyrtec (cetirizine dihydrochloride) A second-generation antihistamine available as 10mg/ml oral solution in drops, indicated for allergies.
• Zyrtecset (cetirizine dihydrochloride) A second-generation antihistamine available in 10mg film-coated scored tablet formulation, indicated for allergies.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lundbeck: Danish CNS-focused pharmaceutical company with epilepsy, Parkinson's, and psychiatry franchises. Direct overlap with UCB's neurology portfolio, particularly epilepsy (Briviact, Vimpat, Keppra) and Parkinson's (Neupro).
• argenx: Belgian-Dutch biotech with Vyvgart (efgartigimod) in generalized myasthenia gravis, directly competing with UCB's Rystiggo and Zilbrysq in the same indication. Comparable immunology/rare-disease focus and Belgian roots create direct overlap.
• Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Ireland-based specialty pharma with Xyrem/Wakix franchises in narcolepsy, directly competing with UCB's Xyrem (sodium oxybate). Similar specialty CNS positioning and overlap on sodium oxybate franchises.
• UCB SA: Belgian parent of UCB France; the consolidated group whose portfolio (Keppra, Vimpat, Cimzia, Bimzelx, Rystiggo, Zilbrysq) defines the French subsidiary's commercial offering. Listed on Euronext Brussels.

Broad incumbents

• AstraZeneca: Through Alexion, AstraZeneca markets Soliris and Ultomiris in myasthenia gravis, directly competing with UCB's Rystiggo and Zilbrysq in the same rare-disease indication.
• Biogen: US-based neurology-focused biopharma (MS, SMA, Alzheimer's) sharing UCB's CNS specialist orientation and competing for the same neurologist mindshare in France.
• Novartis: Swiss pharma with major neurology (Kesimpta in MS) and immunology (Cosentyx IL-17) franchises. Bimzelx's IL-17 positioning creates direct competitive overlap with Cosentyx.
• AbbVie: Global immunology leader (Humira, Skyrizi, Rinvoq) competing for the same rheumatology and dermatology prescribers targeted by UCB's Cimzia and Bimzelx in France.
• GSK: British pharma with both neurology and immunology assets (Benlysta, Nucala) targeting overlapping specialist prescriber bases with UCB's immunology portfolio.
• Sanofi: French-headquartered global pharmaceutical company with overlapping franchises in neurology, immunology (Dupixent), and rare diseases. Largest French-market peer with broad portfolio competing for the same HCP relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ucb_news
• YouTubeyoutube.com/UCB
• Facebookfacebook.com/UCBBiopharma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucb-pharma-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucb_biopharma

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UCB France