In 2022, SFL was acquired by Veristat, one of the world’s leading clinical research organizations (CROs), joining two high-powered, quality-driven teams with complementary services and geographical scope, the partnership enables both organizations to expand their support and benefit from the expertise of recognized experts.
In 2021, SFL was named the third best employer in the small companies category in Switzerland by the independent international organization Great Place to Work, a testimony to SFL’s commitment to create a friendly workplace and support its employees personal and professional growth.
In 2020, SFL successfully overcame the global challenges of this special year and could even attract new clients and substantial projects due to its reputation for high-quality services throughout the product lifecycle to life sciences companies worldwide. The company staff expanded and the SFL team relocated to a bigger office in the city of Basel.
In 2019, SFL celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a party attended by approx. 200 guests, and welcome speeches given by Councilor Christoph Brutschin, Head of the Department of Economics, Social Services and Environmental Affairs of the Canton Basel-City, and Mr. Felix Werner, Member of the Executive Committee and Head Labor Market & SMEs at the Basel-City Trade Association. Later this year, SFL rented an office in UN Studio Amsterdam to stay in close proximity to the EMA after its Brexit-related move from London to Amsterdam.
In 2018, SFL set up a dedicated service area on medical devices and combined products, reinforcing its leadership and long-term Notified Body and industry experience in that area. This year also saw the inauguration of its new office at the Biopôle in Epalinges (Lausanne), fostering SFL’s commitment to a local presence in the Romandy and supporting its clients in the region. Furthermore, SFL’s continuous efforts to create a working environment that promotes integrity, fairness and respect was rewarded by the independent global organization GPTW that named SFL one of the best employers in Switzerland.
In 2017, SFL opened a new company, SFL Regulatory Services GmbH, in Vienna, Austria. The Vienna office has been established as new EU base in order to continue and expand SFL’s EU activities and interactions with the EMA. SFL’s already established UK entity will continue to serve as a future contact point to the MHRA. The SFL team will continue supporting clients from offices in Basel, Barcelona, Brussels, London and Vienna.
In 2015, SFL opened an office in Brussels. To mark this expansion, SFL hosted its 1st event in Brussels, entitled ‘A common policy vision for pharma and device field?’, supported by eminent speakers including a member of the European Parliament. Additionally, several senior advisors were appointed, joining the SFL Advisory Board in providing strategic advices to SFL clients, in support of the SFL team.
In 2014, SFL staff increased to 21 employees and the Board of Senior Advisors was expanded, particularly with Xavier Luria, former Head of Safety and Efficacy at EMA, who joined SFL as senior advisor and Head of SFL UK. This extension of the SFL team allowed the completion of large regulatory and medical communication projects, including a new survey across seven EU countries for EuropaBio.
With its newly created Events department, SFL co-developed the Medtech&Pharma Platform, which held its 1st congress in Zurich in October 2014. Since 2014, SFL acts as secretariat of the Rare Disease Action Forum, a think-tank focusing on rare diseases in Switzerland.
In 2013, SFL appointed its Advisory Board to provide strategic advice and recommendations on the long-term development of SFL and on specific client projects. SFL also opened an office in London. The international expansion of SFL was further marked by the presence of an SFL booth at the DIA Annual meeting in Boston, MA. In the same year, SFL received accreditation for its training courses from the Swiss Association of Pharmaceutical Professionals (SwAPP) Commission for Professional Development and the Swiss Society of Pharmaceutical Medicine (SGPM).
In 2012, the SFL Public Affairs group conducted and reported a joint study with EuropaBio on the impact of Health Technology Assessments on EU Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Furthermore, the formerly EU-focused group expanded to include Swiss Public Affairs. Shayesteh was involved in the DIA European advisory council and, overall, SFL published 8 articles on several key regulatory topics. All these efforts and outcomes were acknowledged and supported by the finalist position at the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce Awards “Most Promising New Entrepreneur” and by the Award “Outstanding Contribution to a Business” received from the Open University MBA Alumni.
In 2011, the addition of Legal and Regulatory Intelligence departments was accompanied by the relocation of SFL to larger offices. SFL also obtained Swissmedic Establishment License that allows SFL to act as Swiss Agent and submit MAA to Swissmedic on clients’ behalf. Furthermore, Shayesteh became Chairperson of EuropaBio’s Combination Product Group.
SFL Services was founded by Shayesteh Fürst-Ladani in 2009, focusing on Regulatory Affairs and successfully expanded in 2010 with the creation of departments for Medical Communication and Public Affairs. Notably, this expansion was rewarded by the 2nd prize for the 2010 North West Switzerland Young Entrepreneur competition.