Abion Assists Curasept in Strategic Partnership with Laboratorios Normon for the Spanish Market
- Domains
- Health and medical care
Expanding into new international markets presents both opportunities and challenges for growing brands. While it offers access to new customers and strengthens global recognition, it also demands careful navigation of local regulations, commercial partnerships, and intellectual property frameworks. For companies in the health and life sciences sector, these complexities are further magnified by stringent compliance requirements and the need to maintain brand integrity across diverse jurisdictions.
Curasept, a leading Italian innovator in oral health, faced precisely these challenges when preparing its entry into the Spanish market. To support this strategic step, the company turned to Abion, and in particular, to Attorney and Legal Director, Eleonora Ortaglio, for high-level guidance in designing and securing a partnership model capable of sustaining long-term international growth.
The Challenge
Curasept identified Spain as a priority within its European expansion strategy, requiring a local partner capable of strengthening distribution and boosting market penetration.
But entering the Iberian market also meant addressing a number of legal and operational complexities, including regulatory requirements, brand positioning, licensing, co-branding, and the protection of proprietary technologies.
The company needed a partnership structure that balanced commercial opportunity with strong legal safeguards. It required a legal advisor capable not only of drafting agreements but also of shaping a strategic, cross-border framework aligned with Curasept’s long-term vision.
Our Solution
Under the leadership of Eleonora Ortaglio, Abion played an instrumental role in structuring and negotiating the partnership with Laboratorios Normon, one of the most respected pharmaceutical companies in Spain.
Eleonora personally led the legal strategy for the entire operation, working closely with Curasept’s International Business Development team to create a partnership framework grounded in legal precision, business pragmatism, and long-term scalability.
Her contribution helped to:
- Negotiate the full contractual architecture of the collaboration, from distribution terms to governance and performance obligations.
- Define co-branding rules and brand-protection mechanisms, ensuring consistent market positioning of the Bucomed PRO by Curasept Afterapid+ line.
- Design a robust IP protection strategy, covering trademarks, proprietary technologies, compliance standards, and usage limitations.
- Align the agreement with EU and Spanish regulatory requirements, guaranteeing a smooth market entry with no operational friction.
“Working with Eleonora Ortaglio has been an exceptional experience. She was not just our legal advisor; she was a true strategic partner. Eleonora understood our objectives immediately and translated them into a robust, forward-looking agreement that protects Curasept as we grow internationally. Her leadership, clarity, and dedication were instrumental in making this project a success.”
— Giulia Giovannardi, International Business Development Manager, Curasept
The Result
The partnership between Curasept and Laboratorios Normon marks a significant milestone in Curasept’s international journey. The successful launch of Bucomed PRO by Curasept Afterapid+ in the Spanish market demonstrates the effectiveness of a well-structured legal and commercial collaboration.
Through Abion’s strategic support, Curasept has secured a strong and sustainable presence in the Iberian market, reinforcing its reputation as an innovative and globally minded oral health brand. The project also highlights Abion’s ability to guide clients through complex international negotiations, combining legal precision with business insight to achieve lasting impact.
Best Practices for IP Management in Cross-Border Commercial Partnerships
When expanding internationally and partnering with local distributors, licensees, or co-branding collaborators, companies should adopt a rigorous IP and commercial governance framework. Here is our strategic checklist often used in similar cross-border operations:
1. Pre-Deal IP and Compliance Assessment
- Conduct a full IP audit of all assets involved.
- Ensure trademark and patent coverage in the target jurisdiction.
- Perform freedom-to-operate checks to avoid conflicts with local competitors.
- Review the regulatory landscape affecting product approvals, packaging, advertising, and claims.
2. Structuring the Partnership
- Clearly define ownership and control of all IP (existing and future).
- Grant only limited, purpose-specific, and revocable usage rights.
- Draft strict brand-usage and marketing guidelines.
- Establish clear co-branding rules, approval processes, and hierarchy of brand visibility.
3. Protecting Proprietary Technologies
- Define the exact scope of any technology license.
- Use strict confidentiality and trade-secret provisions, with need-to-know access.
- Establish cybersecurity, data-processing, and document-handling standards.
4. Commercial Governance
- Set performance metrics and reporting obligations for the local partner.
- Define quality control procedures to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Align pricing, returns, and service standards with the global brand strategy.
5. Enforcement & Risk Mitigation
- Establish an IP enforcement protocol for counterfeits, misuse, or grey-market risks.
- Include immediate termination mechanisms for IP or confidentiality breaches.
- Choose the jurisdiction and governing law that best protects the brand.
6. Long-Term Market Strategy
- Conduct periodic partner audits to monitor compliance and performance.
- Track market activity for potential infringement or dilution.
- Review and adjust agreements as the brand evolves in the new market.
Need help with setting up a strategic partnership to expand into new markets?
Get in touch with Eleonora and the Abion team to schedule a meeting.
