UCB's Global Corporate Website

A global biopharma company, inspired by the needs of people living with severe diseases

At UCB, we are consistently delivering on our commitment to improve the lives of people living with severe neurological and immunological conditions. And thanks to our focused, innovative and trusted solutions, our business is strong, with total revenue reaching € 5.3 billion in 2023. 

This success is powered by the approximately 9,000 people – from our headquarters in Belgium and across nearly 40 countries worldwide. Our people have lived our purpose each day since 1928, making critical investments in biopharmaceutical research and leading innovations that strive to achieve a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.

Our vision

UCB’s ambition is to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases, allowing them to live the best life that they can – as free as possible from the challenges and uncertainty of disease. That commitment comes to life in our research and development activities across neurology, immunology and other areas where our expertise, innovation and ambition align with unmet needs. 

UCB is continuously working to advance science and embrace new knowledge, bringing passion and leadership to solving the challenges that matter to people living with severe diseases. We are leveraging scientific advances and new technologies in areas including genetics, biomarkers and human biology. Continually inspired by those we serve to bring differentiated solutions with unique outcomes that deliver tangible, positive impacts.

Our strategy

We are intently and uniquely focused on delivering valuable solutions to people living with severe diseases. We do this by seeing the person behind the disease and by understanding that their needs go beyond just treatment.

This is why our work is rooted in a culture of dialogue, collaboration and respect, allowing us to forge bonds with the people we serve and those who know their challenges best, ensuring that our work can have the greatest possible impact. 

We believe in partnership and seek out those who share our commitment to delivering valuable solutions. Whether that’s collaborating with leading researchers from academia or peers within our industry, we invest in meaningful partnerships to address the critical challenges we’re focused on solving.  

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More than 70 nationalities

Our history

Looking ahead, we are building on this position of strength and preparation the next wave of future medicines and solutions, driving future growth and creating value for patients.

In the early years of the 21st century, UCB began to transform into a pure biopharma company. 

Significant milestones included the acquisition of Celltech, a British biotech firm in 2004, and then German pharma company, Schwarz Pharma, in 2006.

A significant breakthrough came in the 1980s when UCB registered Zyrtec© - a novel antihistamine product. A blockbuster was born, helping to further raise the profile of the company. 

A second blockbuster - Keppra© - was launched in the 1990s, spurring further global growth. 

UCB was created in Brussels by Emmanuel Janssen in the 1920s.

The company expanded and entered the US market in the 1930s.

Our scientists' first therapeutic breakthroughs came in the 1950s, followed in the 1960s by visionary research into the field of biotechnology.

"Traditionally, science is connected to the patient. We want to connect patients to science. This is the business model of today and tomorrow."

- Jean-Christophe Tellier

 

Click to read our 90-year book