Chiesi Group invests €430M in new manufacturing plant in Italy

ITALY – Chiesi Group, a global leader in respiratory, rare disease, and specialty care pharmaceuticals, has announced a €430 million (US $464 million) investment to establish a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Nerviano, Italy.

The ambitious project is set to bolster Chiesi’s manufacturing capabilities, expand its presence within the biopharmaceutical sector, and create significant employment opportunities.

The newly acquired site spans approximately 55,000 square meters and will specialize in the production of sterile biological products, dry powder inhalers, and environmentally friendly carbon minimal inhalers.

The facility is expected to be operational by 2027, with the entire project planned to run from 2025 to 2030.

“We chose Nerviano for its strategic location and the potential of the industrial area, which we will transform into a center of excellence for the production of next-generation inhalers,” stated Giuseppe Accogli, CEO of Chiesi Group.

“This investment strengthens our presence in Italy and Europe, consolidates our leadership in the sector, and creates new growth opportunities for the local community. It also complements our significant investments in the Parma area, notably our recent Biotech Center launch.”

The Nerviano site will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure designed for the development and manufacturing of inhalable and biologic medicines.

According to company reports, the facility will house approximately 3,000 square meters of lab space and include a solar park capable of making the plant self-sufficient in energy.

Additionally, Chiesi plans to regenerate a 20,000-square-meter woodland adjacent to the industrial site, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.

Chiesi’s new investment also aligns with its broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, which includes a goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.

To this end, the company has already invested €350 million in developing low-emission inhalers that reduce global warming potential by up to 90%.

The site’s development is projected to create approximately 300 new jobs by 2029, further solidifying Chiesi’s role as a major contributor to the regional economy.

“Italy remains at the heart of our innovation efforts,” Accogli added. “We are excited to continue investing in our home country, where we have deep roots and a long-standing tradition of excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing.”

The Nerviano facility will complement Chiesi’s existing global manufacturing network, which includes facilities in Parma, Italy; Blois, France; and Santana de Parnaíba, Brazil. The company’s recent acquisitions and strategic investments have fueled rapid growth, nearly doubling annual revenues over the last decade to surpass €3 billion.

Chiesi’s decision to establish a manufacturing hub in Nerviano follows its US $1.48 billion acquisition of Amryt Pharma in 2023, which paved the way for the successful launch of Filsuvez (birch triterpenes) for the rare skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa.