Chiesi Biotech Center of Excellence opens to strengthen R&D in Italy
Chiesi Group has today officially launched its new Biotech Center of Excellence, with the aim that it "brings the future of medicine to Parma."
The family-owned, global pharma company made a strategic investment of just under €400 million for establishing the Center. The state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to developing and producing monoclonal antibodies, enzymes, and other proteins, and is designed to integrate the entire supply chain, enhancing innovation and production, and accelerating product development and autonomous production capacity.
Chiesi’s strategy aligns with EU priorities on innovation, security, and private R&D investment: the decision to establish a centre of excellence to produce biologic drugs in Italy is significant in the context of Mario Draghi’s report on European competitiveness. The report underscores the urgency of closing the innovation gap with the US and China by focusing on upskilling, research, and development, and addressing regulatory hurdles.
The Biotech Center of Excellence aims to help address healthcare challenges, striving to create a more resilient and sustainable system. In an age of greenwashing, where ESG (environmental, social, governance) increasingly feels like a corporate buzzword, Chiesi has been walking the walk since 2018 as a Benefit Corporation, and has been a Certified B-Corp since 2019.
Chiesi seeks to align with recent biopharmaceutical advancements, and increase production in Europe, attracting international talent and investment, and creating global partnerships. The opening of the Center celebrates Chiesi’s dedication to research in Italy, highlighting ongoing investments that create value and high-quality jobs. Of the approximately €400 million that Chiesi will invest, €120 million is allocated to infrastructure, while €260 million will be spent over the long term (2023–2030) on materials, innovative technologies, skills development, and training.
The new Center will enhance Chiesi’s focus areas in respiratory, special care treatments, and rare diseases, with a view to strengthening its overall strategic position in terms of competition.
“Today, we inaugurate a centre with a production site that projects us into a new path of care, allowing us to continue making a difference in serving people and families living with chronic diseases, especially rare diseases, with increasingly innovative technologies," said Alessandro Chiesi, chair of the Chiesi Group.
"In a rapidly changing world, this facility will help generate new knowledge and skills, contributing to a national biotech supply chain that attracts and retains the best global talents," he added.
“At Chiesi, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. The opening of our new Biotech Center marks a bold leap forward in our commitment to delivering groundbreaking therapies that truly transform patients' lives," commented Guiseppe Accogli, Chiesi's CEO.
"This centre will elevate our production capabilities to new heights and reinforce our dedication to driving innovation. More than that, it will empower us to forge powerful collaborations and push the boundaries of what’s possible in patient’s care," Accogli added.
The Biotech Center of Excellence will employ up to 200 specialists, with current technical activities involving 60 people, expected to grow to over 80 by the end of 2025. The company hopes that the new therapeutic opportunities from the Biotech Center will position it as a major player in the rapidly growing biopharmaceutical sector.
