Chiesi Group’s new Biotech Center of Excellence brings the future of medicine to Parma

• The new center of excellence for the development and production of biologic drugs, currently under construction, will be built in Parma in the area of the production plant;
• Construction of the building is rapidly progressing, and it is scheduled to receive its first technological installations by the beginning of 2023 and to be operational by 2024;
• The event was attended by the Vice Minister of Business and Made in Italy as well as the President and Councillor of the region, the mayor of Parma, by the President of Farmindustria and Chiesi Group Management.

Parma (Italy), November 21^st, 2022 - Today, the Chiesi pharmaceutical group celebrated in Parma the “Start of Work” on the Biotech Center of Excellence, the new Italian and international center of excellence for the development and production of biologic drugs.

The Center, which will become fully operational in 2024, projecting itself into the future of medicine, will specialise in the development and production of the active ingredients of monoclonal antibodies (produced through recombinant DNA techniques starting from a single type of immune cell), enzymes and other proteins. From cells to the finished drug and packaging for the global market, attracting talent and technical skills to Italy that are crucial to further developing the specialised expertise already present in the country.

The creation of the Biotech Center of Excellence is Chiesi’s response to the challenges highlighted by the pandemic, which revealed a need to improve the resilience of the healthcare system, including improvements in sustainability. Today, only 22% of all new treatments developed worldwide originate in European countries, and this is partly caused by slower growth in R&D investment across the region.

Today’s event, held at the Chiesi San Leonardo production site in Parma, where the new Center is being built, was attended by the Vice Minister of Business and Made in Italy Valentino Valentini, the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region Stefano Bonaccini, Councillor Vincenzo Colla, the Mayor of Parma Michele Guerra, the President of Farmindustria Marcello Cattani, and the Group’s top management.

“The success of Made in Italy is possible thanks to realities such as Chiesi, in first place among private companies for investment in research and development in Italy: over 20% of turnover, around half a billion Euro in 2022, and also in first place for the number of patents. The Chiesi Group is now focusing on biological drugs including monoclonal antibodies with an 85 million Euro investment in an international center of excellence in Parma, confirming its corporate culture focused on the patients, innovation, and maximum environmental sustainability,” commented the Italian Vice Minister Valentino Valentini.

“Research, innovation, and new technologies are the strategic drivers that will enable an area like Emilia-Romagna to compete at an international level now and in the near future. For this reason, the opening of this centre is an excellent news that will enrich our region with another place of excellence in the field of pharmaceuticals. As an institution, we intend to stand by the entrepreneurial realities that invest in good jobs, innovation, and research, providing them with more and more opportunities. Starting with a regional system that is enriched, with the inauguration on Thursday at the Technopole of Bologna, of the European supercomputer Leonardo, the fourth largest in the world in terms of computing power, an extraordinary infrastructure, at the service of Italy and Europe, which also includes pharmaceuticals and biotechnology as several sectors with the greatest potential” said the Emilia-Romagna Region President Stefano Bonaccini.

“Today, we are proud to present this new center of excellence in the presence of local, regional, and national institutions. For Chiesi, it has always been essential to invest in research with the goal of making our country, and Europe, a leader in production and access to innovation. Moreover, the new Biotech Center represents a strong message of growth for Italy and for the Parma community in particular, where Chiesi was established and where its headquarters are still based,” commented Alberto Chiesi, President of the Chiesi Group.

For Italy and Europe to become leaders in terms of raw materials and access to innovation, it is fundamental that European and National institutions work on the creation of norms and regulations that are future proof. Furthermore, it is also crucial to begin working to maintain a system of strong incentives that encourages scientific progress, technology, and innovative pharmaceuticals. To focus on the value brought to patients and the healthcare system, it’s necessary to strive for regulatory ecosystems that look past the concepts of innovation evaluation on the base of technology.

“With the Biotech Center, the company intends to internalise its expertise in order to have an effective research facility that can develop new drugs and facilitate integration with the manufacturing plant in our region. Our goal will not be to compete with the big multinationals, but to become a center for excellence in our molecules. The Biotech Center will not only be advanced in terms of biotechnology; it will also be developed with the same prerogatives as the company’s other facilities. By investing in Biotech, we are investing in the medicine of the future, preparing for future healthcare demands,” concluded Antonio Magnelli, Head of Global Manufacturing Division at the Chiesi Group.

The meeting was also an opportunity to celebrate Chiesi’s commitment to research in Italy; indeed, the Group continues to invest in the region, carrying out projects that produce value and new highly qualified jobs. The new therapeutic opportunities offered by the Biotech Center of Excellence will allow the company to become a major player in the biopharmaceutical sector, an industry that has been constantly growing for around 10 years. 

 About Chiesi Group

Chiesi is an international, research-focused biopharmaceuticals group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment. By changing its legal status to a Benefit Corporation in Italy, the US, and France, Chiesi’s commitment to create shared value for society as a whole is legally binding and central to company-wide decision-making. Since 2019 Chiesi is certified B Corp, meaning that its sustainability efforts are measured and assessed by the most ambitious global standards. The company aims at becoming net-zero by 2035. With over 85 years of experience, Chiesi is headquartered in Parma (Italy), operates in 30 countries, and counts more than 6,500 employees. The Group’s and development centre in Parma works alongside 6 other important R&D hubs in France, the US, Canada, China, the UK, and Sweden. For further information please visit www.chiesi.com

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Alessio Pappagallo

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Email   a.pappagallo@chiesi.com