Product Portfolio (R&D): balanced and focused

The number of Research and Development (R&D) programs has been increasing in recent years focused on three main areas: Respiratory, Neonatology and Special Care.

Respiratory

The respiratory line is a central area of R&D, which has brought significant value to the company and continues to expand to meet medical needs in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory diseases.

Fostair

It is a key drug for the company's future, which continues to be a highly significant element of R&D activity as we develop powerful product lifecycle management.

There is a substantial commitment to a very attractive therapeutic opportunity with our Triple program. Our product candidate contains three active principles in a single inhaler that will ensure effective anti-inflammatory therapy combined with maximum bronchodilation throughout the respiratory tree in each inhalation.

The portfolio of new molecules continues to show significant promise. These programs include novel anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory molecules, as well as innovative dual active molecules acting on two different drug targets.

Neonatology  

With the clinical success of Curosurf in the treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in neonates, Chiesi has established an impressive platform in neonatology. In this area of high medical need, R&D programs include innovative and less invasive methods for targeted administration of Curosurf in the child's lung. It has also progressed to the development of the synthetic surfactant that is about to undergo clinical trials, with emerging data supporting the safety, efficacy and clinical usefulness of this new potential option for surfactant replacement therapies.

As we expand our portfolio behind these innovative products focused on the respiratory system, new programs have been developed for candidates for the treatment of other neonatal conditions. For example, there are currently no effective pharmacological therapies approved for neonatal brain injury: a relatively common condition associated with significant levels of morbidity and mortality in newborns. The melatonin development program has begun.

Rare diseases and special care

Chiesi's R & D model in the area of Special Care includes some significant partnerships with companies specializing in rare disease studies. This allows Chiesi to access advanced and promising therapy platforms in new areas of the portfolio.

The acquisition of Zymenex, a Scandinavian biotechnology company, represented a significant step in bringing Chiesi expertise in biotechnology and designing therapies for the treatment of extremely rare diseases through enzyme replacement therapies.

In partnership with Kamada, we aim to provide patients with inhaled alpha-1 antitrypsin, a new form of enzyme replacement therapy with indication in the area of rare respiratory diseases.

Gene therapy represents a cutting-edge approach in therapies, and in partnership with UniQure, Chiesi has taken an important position in this field. Following the successful approval of Glybera in Europe, we are now involved in the co-development of a gene therapy for Hemophilia B.

The partnership with Holostem allowed us to develop an advanced therapeutic drug product for tissue regeneration for the treatment of severe corneal damage.

We obtained approval for a formulation of immunosuppressant tacrolimus in a single daily dose for the prophylaxis of rejection of solid organ transplants, in partnership with the company Veloxis.