NPO1 in Netherlands orders ‘Elixer’, scripted co-pro from Topkapi, NTR & BNNVARRA

Elixer

Dutch broadcaster NPO1 has commissioned Elixer, a new scripted drama about the pharmaceutical industry, from Banijay-owned label Topkapi, NTR and BNNVARRA.

Distributed by Banijay Rights, the eight-part series will air on NPO1 in 2025, and is also bound for Nordic public broadcasters NRK, DR, SVT, RUV and Yle, as well as ZDF Germany and VRT in Belgium, via the Creative Europe Programme.

Written by Maaik Krijgsman in collaboration with Jaap Peter Enderlé, Franky Ribbens and Luca Izeboud, Elixer tells the story of Isabelle Rombauts, played by Hanna Verboom, as she is unexpectedly appointed the CEO of the family-owned company Rombauts Pharma, a prominent player in the international pharmaceutical market.

Soon, she is confronted with serious malpractices and must weigh her own conscience against the interests of her influential family. A world full of intrigue, power struggles, and despair within the pharmaceutical industry unfolds.

Elixer was funded with the support of NPO, NPO-fonds, the Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA of the European Union, the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Screen Flanders, Belgian Tax Shelter, and Limburg Film Fonds, in co-production with Menuetto.

Led by producers Frans van Gestel, Arnold Heslenfeld, and Laurette Schillings, Topkapi is behind titles including Childhood Dreams and co-productions such as Another Round (Druk), Instinct, Bumperkleef, Piece of my Heart, Girl, Benedetta, Goodbye Stranger, as well as historical dramas Vliegende Hollanders and De Droom van de Jeugd.

“The co-production model of Elixer brings together partners from multiple Europe markets, and we see this growth as the next step in our international ambitions,” said van Gestel.

“This tale of caution around the pharma industry is universal and all-too relatable, and we expect audiences across the eight countries who contributed to the show will be intrigued and engaged.”