Company: Biohaven, New Haven, CT
Nomination Submitted by: Sam Brown Inc.
Company Description: Biohaven is a uniquely different pharmaceutical company. We are an agile and resilient team of highly skilled professionals who eagerly challenge the status quo to advance novel, life-changing therapies. People are at the center of all we do. The unmet needs of patients inspire us to follow scientific innovation wherever it leads and motivate our resolve for overcoming obstacles.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Pharmaceuticals - Medium
 Nomination Title: BIOHAVEN
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2021, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
Biohaven delivered on a bold mission to be a pharmaceutical innovator in the treatment of society’s most debilitating neurological diseases. For nearly a decade, the company executed to bring scientific innovation to advance novel medicines for diseases with little or no treatment options. These diseases, such as migraine, OCD, ataxia, epilepsy and others, have been historically difficult to treat, leaving patients with no hope of options. Whereas Big Pharma continues to abandon high-risk drug development pursuits in the field of neurology, Biohaven answered the call, fearlessly assuming the responsibility as the disruptor of the status quo – a modern pharmaceutical company that is driven to tackle the toughest drug development challenges. “There is something healthy about having your feet to the fire,” says Vlad Coric, M.D., Biohaven’s CEO. “We want to live in this innovation space.”
Biohaven stands apart in today’s pharma industry as a patient-centric, agile organization with a culture of innovation that extends to all aspects of its operations. The company is a recognized leader in the use of digital tools and technologies that make its clinical trials and drug delivery more accessible and inclusive for all patients who can benefit from Biohaven’s medical innovations.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Biohaven's mark on the pharmaceutical industry is best exemplified through breakthrough migraine drug Nurtec® ODT (rimegepant), the first and only medication approved to treat and prevent migraine attacks. In developing Nurtec ODT, Biohaven set out to deliver a superior product that significantly improves patients’ lives. To achieve that goal, the company invested in cutting-edge drug formulation technology that targets the unique patient burden in migraine. Speed of relief and consideration of symptoms such as nausea are often overlooked as critical attributes of migraine. When other companies focused on standard means of drug development, Biohaven took the risk with an oral disintegrating tablet (ODT) that shortened the time to symptom relief and didn't require a nauseous patient to swallow a traditional tablet. The company’s differentiated approach culminated with the delivery of the first all-in-one migraine therapy in May 2021.
Biohaven's also answering the call of people living with OCD through a unique, patient-centric clinical trial campaign. The company is not only focusing on recruiting patients for its pivotal Phase 3 trial for troriluzole, a novel therapy that offers potential for filling the OCD treatment gap, but also aiming to raise awareness of OCD by elevating the voice of real patients. To help fulfill both of these important goals, Biohaven has developed the first-ever television and radio commercials for OCD. By using an honest portrayal of OCD through the voice of patients, the commercials highlight that people with OCD are not alone, and the scientific community is dedicated to improving their lives.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
When Biohaven invested in rimegepant (Nurtec® ODT) and made it the foundation of its IPO in 2017, it was already the underdog in the race to bring forward a new migraine drug. In addition to rimegepant previously being shelved by one large pharma as not worthy of development, another large pharma competitor was also developing a CGRP therapy with an 18-month lead. Ultimately, the competitor received FDA approval for its migraine therapy in late 2019, followed by the approval of rimegepant in February 2020. The proximity of the two drug approvals set up a David vs. Goliath battle in the industry.
From the initial launch of Nurtec ODT in 2020 for the acute treatment of migraine in adults, through the fall of 2022, the innovation Biohaven infused into its novel migraine therapy propelled it to the #1 prescribed migraine treatment in its class. Recognizing the extraordinary value Biohaven built, Pfizer acquired Nurtec ODT and Biohaven’s calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist franchise for $11.6 billion in October 2022.
Biohaven's currently implementing a first-of-its-kind clinical trial campaign that aims to raise awareness for OCD, a neurological disorder that affects one-in-100 people, and recruit patients for a study on the first potential new medication for OCD in 20 years. The cornerstones of the campaign are the first-ever broadcast commercials on OCD that feature real patients voicing their thoughts on the most debilitating OCD symptom: intrusive thoughts. Patients also share their hopes that science can make a difference in finding new OCD drugs.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 132 words used.
- Press release on the FDA approval of Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-biohavens-nurtec-odt-rimegepant-for-prevention-now-the-first-and-only-migraine-medication-for-both-acute-and-preventive-treatment-301301304.html
- Phase 3 preventive study of Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) published in The Lancet
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422%2822%2900517-8/fulltext
- Press release on Pfizer acquisition of Biohaven
https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-completes-acquisition-biohaven-pharmaceuticals
- Media Coverage – post acquisition spinout of “new” Biohaven in PharmaVoice, recognizing CEO Vlad Coric as an innovative leader
https://www.pharmavoice.com/news/biohaven-ceo-Vlad-Coric-Pfizer-Nurtec/642255/
- Media Coverage – Biohaven and CEO Vlad Coric featured in the March issue of Life Science Leader discussing CGRP acquisition and business strategies
https://www.lifescienceleader.com/doc/making-the-right-deal-for-biohaven-0001
- OCD commercials (first ever for OCD)
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/2lsH/biohaven-pharmaceuticals-ocd-clinical-trials-what-if
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/2t7C/biohaven-pharmaceuticals-ocd-trials
- Biohaven Website and information on pipeline of therapies in development for neurological diseases
https://www.biohaven.com/
| Attachments/Videos/Links: |
|---|
|
