Chiesi Group has announced the operational launch of its biotech centre of excellence in Italy.
The company has invested €400m to establish the facility, which it said is dedicated to developing and producing monoclonal antibodies, enzymes and other proteins.
Situated in Parma and set to employ up to 200 specialists, the site houses the entire supply chain in a single location, from the production of drug substances from mammalian cells to their transformation into drug products and final packaging.
This will be a “major advantage” and allow for more efficient transitions from development to manufacturing, Chiesi said, adding that the centre will support the production of small and large batches of both experimental and approved drugs.
The new site will also enhance the company’s focus areas of respiratory, special care treatments and rare diseases.
Alessandro Chiesi, Chiesi group chair, said: “[We have inaugurated] 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.”
Of the approximately €400m investment, €120m has been allocated to infrastructure, while €260 million will be spent over the long term on materials, technologies, skills development and training.
Also commenting on the launch, Giuseppe Accogli, the company’s chief executive officer, said: “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.”
The launch comes just under three months after two of Chiesi’s rare disease therapies, Elfabrio (pegunigalsidase alfa) and Filsuvez (birch bark extract gel), were approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium to treat Fabry disease and junctional and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, respectively.
The company’s rare disease unit also recently announced a new research grant initiative to support research into lysosomal storage disorders.