Friday, June 19, 2026
Chiesi accelerates lower-carbon inhalation therapies
Decarbonisation
As part of TPSD’s editorial monitoring of ongoing transformations in the pharmaceutical industry, this article focuses on developments at Chiesi’s production site in La Chaussée-Saint-Victor, near Blois, where new manufacturing lines are being commissioned as part of a broader strategy to significantly expand capacity by 2027.
The biopharmaceutical group is pursuing a long-term approach combining increased production volumes, job creation, and a progressive reduction of the environmental footprint of respiratory medical devices.
The new production lines, whose investments were previously announced during earlier editions of the Choose France summit, are expected to become fully operational by the end of the year. They will increase the site’s annual capacity by an additional 20 to 25 million inhalation devices, including next-generation metered-dose inhalers designed to reduce carbon impact.
In total, the site is expected to reach an annual production capacity of nearly 60 million units, with an increasing share destined for export markets. Chiesi indicates that around 90% of production will be exported, confirming the strategic role of the French site within its global industrial footprint.
A technological shift focused on reducing the carbon footprint of inhalation therapies
Beyond the increase in volumes, a key element of this industrial expansion lies in the technological transformation of inhaler manufacturing. Since 2019, Chiesi has invested significantly in the development of alternative propellant gases aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of pressurised metered-dose inhalers.
This technological direction addresses a long-recognised challenge within healthcare systems: the environmental impact of respiratory treatments, particularly inhalers, which are often among the most carbon-intensive medical devices.
The company reports more than €400 million invested in research and development of these alternatives, with the goal of delivering devices that maintain full therapeutic efficacy while significantly reducing environmental impact.
A long-term industrial development strategy
The La Chaussée-Saint-Victor site is described by the company as a global centre of excellence for respiratory treatments. Over the past ten years, more than €160 million has been invested in its development.
This new phase of expansion is also accompanied by additional recruitment, following the creation of around one hundred jobs during previous capacity increases. The company highlights a long-term dynamic combining industrial growth with strong local anchoring.
In a statement, Chiesi France management emphasises the group’s commitment to strengthening its presence within the French industrial landscape, aligning economic development with environmental responsibility.
An example of convergence between industrial expansion and environmental transition
This investment reflects a broader trend in the pharmaceutical industry: the strengthening of manufacturing capacity in Europe alongside increasing pressure to reduce the environmental footprint of healthcare products, particularly inhalation devices. These dynamics combine production scale-up, technological innovation, and environmental transition.