International law firm Bird & Bird has advised Orphalan, a laboratory specialising in the development and commercialisation of orphan drugs, on the acquisition of Orphelia Pharma, a French company specialising in rare and severe paediatric diseases in neurology and oncology.
Founded in 2011 from a collaboration between the General Agency for Health Products (AGEPS) and Lariboisière Hospital, Orphalan commercialises Cuprior®, a treatment for Wilson’s disease. The product is approved and authorised in 38 countries and sold in 28 markets. The group is now pursuing an ambitious mission to reduce diagnostic delays and improve access to innovative treatments for patients with rare diseases.
Based in Paris and Lyon, Orphelia Pharma has a medicine authorised in Europe since 2018, Kigabeq®, a paediatric antiepileptic. The company is also developing the medicine Kizfiko®/Kimozo®, which benefited from early access in France for the treatment of a form of high-risk neuroblastoma in children between 2022 and 2025. Following this transaction, Orphelia Pharma is intended to be fully integrated within Orphalan.
This acquisition will enable both companies to build a unique platform combining scientific excellence and global commercialisation, thereby accelerating innovation and improving access to treatments worldwide.
For Orphalan, this strategic transaction represents an opportunity to significantly strengthen its portfolio of orphan drugs whilst expanding its expertise in the field of rare paediatric diseases. The combination thus consolidates its position as a leading player in the development and commercialisation of innovative treatments for patients with rare diseases.
Bird & Bird advised Orphalan with a team composed of partner Olivier Peronnau and associate Céline Sol.
Jones Day advised Orphelia Pharma with a team composed of Geoffroy Pineau-Valencienne and Guillaume Bonhoure.
