The Chiesi Group, a pharmaceutical company with more than 80 years dedicated to the research and development of medicines and new technologies, is completing 40 years in Brazil. Present in the country since 1976, in August of 1981 Chiesi inaugurated its factory in Santana de Parnaíba, São Paulo. And to mark the date, the company is in the process of expansion and modernization and announced an investment of R$ 21 million by 2020.
The expansion is part of a company strategy to meet the global demand for the drug Clenil® (beclomethasone), an inhaled corticosteroid indicated for asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis and rhinopharyngitis, causing the Brazilian factory to absorb more of the global volume. "In this investment, we will have the general reform of the area and the acquisition of new equipment, automating part of the process and increasing the productive capacity in the line of liquids," adds José Fernando Almeida, General Manager of Chiesi in Brazil.
The increase in production of the drug in the country should be of at least 4 million units, further enhancing the importance of Chiesi Brazil in achieving the group's results. "Currently our factory produces 13 million units, of which 3.5 million are exported to Europe, which represents about 25% of the total produced. With this investment, we will be exporting more than 7 million units, meeting a demand of 26 countries, between Europe and North Africa. With this increase, our export volume will reach approximately 50% of the total produced," explains Fernando Almeida.
Over these 40 years, Chiesi Brasil has been transferring technology from important corporate products, such as Bamifix® (bamiphyline hydrochloride), indicated in the treatment of asthmatic bronchitis, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease and asthma; Manivasc® (manidipine dihydrochloride), for high blood pressure and hypertension in patients with kidney changes and/or diabetes; and the entire aerosol line. Six years ago, exchanged for the new Clenil® HFA propellant was also made, in addition to Clenil Nasal Spray (beclomethasone dipropionate), whose production process will be done in accordance with the manufacturing standards of the matrix.
For the next few years, Chiesi will launch a new medication for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and also a new presentation of Fostair® (beclomethasone dipropionate + formoterol fumarate), which will be indicated for patients with bronchial asthma, where the disease is more difficult to monitor.
"Undoubtedly, the 40-year milestone alone demonstrates Chiesi's commitment to Brazil, but we want more. We are investing in the factory to double exports and we have a concrete strategic plan for non-organic growth, actively seeking acquisitions that make sense with our present and future portfolio," states the General Manager of Chiesi in Brazil.
