Press Release. As opportunities arise in their careers, more and more
Filipino women are waiting longer to have children. Due to this trend in the
delay of pregnancy until an older age, up to a quarter of all couples may
experience problems in conceiving a child. The World Health Organization estimates that there are
about 60 to 80 million cases of infertility around the world.
In the past, Filipino couples who wanted to seek medical
help in conceiving a child had no choice but to go overseas to get treatment.
But with the establishment of Ferring Pharmaceuticals office in the country,
more couples can finally get access to a treatment that can fulfill their
dreams of having a complete family.
Treatment of infertility is one of Ferring's key areas of
expertise and it is committed to progress in the field of Assisted Reproductive
Technology (ART).
Jane Villablanca, General Manager of Ferring PH believes
that Filipinos considering In Vitro Fertilization treatment lack awareness on
where to go and seek a proper consultation. “One of the challenges for Ferring PH is that we have to sell the
concept first. To talk about the science and bring US and European speakers to
educate the doctors so that they too can properly educate their patients about
the treatment. With the better economy more Filipinos will be able to afford
these treatments and they don’t have to go to countries like Singapore,
Hongkong, Taiwan or even Vietnam to for their IVF procedures.”
Villablanca, however, advised couples to seek the
treatment early; “You have to remember
that the older you get the more medicines and treatments you’d need and the
chances are greater if you undergo the procedures while you are still young.”
Besides the better economy, the entry of Ferring is also timely with the
prioritization of the government of the Universal Health Care and the increased
health care financing as well as the passage of the reproductive health law as
the company also specializes on other obstetrics products that seek to reduce
the maternal mortality rate.
Research before profit Established against the backdrop
of the Second World War, Ferring Pharma distinguishes itself from the rest by
putting research ahead of profit. Scientific researcher Frederik Paulsen, fled
from Germany to Sweden, to establish Nordiska Hormon Laboratoriet in 1950. The
company would later be known as Ferring with Dr Paulsen and wife Eva becoming
the first scientists to synthesize peptides by producing adrenocorticotrophin
hormone (ACTH), or stress hormone.
Ferring's infertility portfolio consists of traditional
highly purified and standardized urinary-derived products. Clinical studies and
years of use have shown that Ferring's hormonal therapies are effective and
offer a good safety profile.
At the formal inauguration of its Philippine office
located at the Ecotower building, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Ferring
Pharmaceutical Presidend Michel Pettigrew expressed his support and confidence
in the newly- formed sales and marketing team. There is an expectation for
Ferring PH to be a strong player in the PH market and in all the markets that
they participate in.
“We’re privately owned by one man who has a strong belief
that science must advance,” shared Pettigrew, his father’s vision still guides
the company’s business today, and science remains at the heart of what it
accomplishes.
The company’s philosophy is ‘People come first at
Ferring’. “We live it every day of the
week,” said Pettigrew. “We have a respect for all stakeholders – whether the
patients, to ensure they get the care they deserve; the medical community or
our employees. We expect our employees to take on a lot of responsibility –
it’s a great place to work.”
As a private, research-driven specialty Biopharmaceutical
Company active in global markets, Ferring is committed to building a portfolio
of novel, innovative peptide therapeutics to address areas of high unmet
medical need. It identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the
fields of endocrinology, gastroenterology, infertility, obstetrics, urology and
osteoarthritis.
It has been more than six decades, yet that same passion
of Dr. Paulsen continues, as Ferring Pharma proudly carries on a culture of
enterprise driven by science, not profit.
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