Helsinn & ESTEVE Deepen Pact to Ease Cancer Care in Austria

LUGANO, Switzerland & BARCELONA, Spain – February 09, 2026 – In a significant move to enhance supportive cancer care in Europe, Helsinn Healthcare SA and ESTEVE today announced the expansion of their long-standing partnership into Austria. The agreement extends the distribution and licensing for AKYNZEO® and ALOXI®, two critical medications designed to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), a debilitating side effect for many cancer patients.

This strategic expansion builds upon a successful 15-year collaboration between the Swiss-based Helsinn and the Spanish pharma company ESTEVE, which has seen the two drugs successfully marketed in Germany for over a decade. By bringing these established treatments to the Austrian market, the companies aim to improve patient quality of life and strengthen their footprint in the vital German-speaking DACH region.

A Blueprint for Strategic Growth

The decision to enter the Austrian market is a calculated step, leveraging a proven partnership model and established products. The original agreements for ALOXI® and AKYNZEO® in Germany date back to 2007 and 2011, respectively, creating a solid foundation of operational experience and trust between the two firms.

Riccardo Braglia, Chairman and CEO of Helsinn, emphasized the strength of the relationship. “We are delighted to further strengthen our long-standing collaboration with ESTEVE, a trusted partner for more than 15 years,” he commented. “This enduring relationship is built on a deep alignment of values and a shared commitment to delivering the highest standards of supportive care to patients. Together, we strive to continuously innovate and provide solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those undergoing cancer treatment.”

For ESTEVE, which reported a 10% revenue increase to €710 million in 2023, the move aligns with its focus on international growth and highly specialized treatments. The company's expansion into Austria is a logical progression within the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), a key European economic hub.

“With the expansion of our collaboration to Austria, we are transferring our long-standing experience with AKYNZEO® and ALOXI® to another market within the German-speaking region, while strategically expanding our business activities and strengthening our presence in this country,” added Klaus Schwarz, Managing Director DACH of ESTEVE. This move underscores a broader trend of leveraging regional synergies for market penetration.

Addressing a Persistent Burden in Cancer Treatment

The clinical significance of this expansion cannot be overstated. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting remains one of the most feared and distressing side effects of cancer therapy, profoundly impacting a patient's daily life, nutritional status, and even their willingness to continue with life-saving treatment regimens.

While acute CINV—occurring within 24 hours of treatment—is often managed, delayed CINV, which can persist for several days, remains a significant challenge. European studies, including data from Austria, have shown that up to 38% of patients suffer from delayed emesis. Nausea, in particular, is a persistent and subjective symptom that is notoriously difficult to control, with studies showing between 42% and 52% of patients experiencing it on any given day post-chemotherapy.

This persistent symptom burden highlights a critical unmet need. Oncologists and patient advocates have long pointed to a gap between established antiemetic guidelines and real-world clinical practice. The availability of more effective and convenient treatment options is seen as crucial to closing this gap and improving the standard of supportive care.

Navigating the Austrian Healthcare System

Both AKYNZEO® and ALOXI® have received marketing authorization from the European Commission, making them eligible for use across all EU member states, including Austria. ALOXI® (palonosetron) has been approved since 2005, while the oral formulation of AKYNZEO® (a fixed combination of netupitant and palonosetron) was approved in 2015, followed by an intravenous version in 2020.

The success of this market entry will hinge on navigating Austria's complex drug pricing and reimbursement framework. For medications used in the outpatient setting, inclusion in the Austrian Reimbursement Code (Erstattungskodex - EKO) is critical for widespread patient access, as it ensures the cost is covered by social security carriers. This process involves Health Technology Assessments and price negotiations based on the average price in other EU countries.

Conversely, medicines used in the inpatient hospital sector are often procured through direct negotiations and tenders, where prices are not centrally regulated. The strategic approach Helsinn and ESTEVE take to pricing and reimbursement will be a key determinant of the drugs' accessibility and impact within Austria's robust €6.3 billion pharmaceutical market.

The Clinical Advantage of Combination Therapy

At the heart of this initiative is the advanced science behind the medications. CINV is triggered through multiple biological pathways, and modern treatment guidelines increasingly recommend using combination therapies that block different receptors to achieve optimal control. AKYNZEO® is specifically designed for this purpose.

As a fixed-dose combination, it contains both a highly selective NK1 receptor antagonist (netupitant) and a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (palonosetron) in a single oral capsule or intravenous dose. This dual-pathway approach is highly effective in preventing both the acute and delayed phases of CINV associated with highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy regimens.

By providing a guideline-consistent therapy in a single product, AKYNZEO® simplifies the treatment process for both clinicians and patients, potentially improving adherence and ensuring more patients receive the comprehensive protection they need. This streamlined approach directly addresses the unmet need for better and more consistent CINV management, offering a tangible improvement in the cancer treatment experience.