Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.

Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. is a family controlled^[1][2] Italian pharmaceutical company based in Parma, Emilia-Romagna.

Following the acquisition, in 1999, of Huddersfield based Trinity Pharmaceuticals, Chiesi has also had a significant presence in the United Kingdom.^[3]

Established in 1935, Chiesi concentrates primarily on developing respiratory, cardiovascular and neonatological drugs, along with those for treating muscular and skeletal conditions. As well as developing drugs in-house, Chiesi has a policy of developing drugs in collaboration with pharmaceutical businesses outside Italy.

The Company employs approximately 3,500 within and beyond Italy. It holds 550 international patents, and employs approximately 350 research staff in centres at Parma, Paris and Rockville, Maryland (USA)

2010 was the year in which turnover broke through the Billion Euro barrier, with Chiesi recording sales growth of 16.4% over the figure for 2009. By 2013 turnover had reach €1,236, with increases coming primarily from outside the Italian home market.^[4]

In 2014 Chiesi was granted a monopoly on producing and marketing a form of medicine that helps prematurely-born infants breathe. As a consequence, the price of this drug has gone up by 4000 %.^[5] Many prematurely-born infants have trouble breathing and because of this they need this so-called caffeine citrate drug. Chiesi has allegedly exploited legislation that was created to compensate companies that have had substantial expenses with developing new drugs. But Chiesi has not developed this form of medication.^[6] Chiesi has a ten-year monopoly on caffeine citrate drugs on the European market and due to this monopoly they can keep competition out. Chiesi does not want to disclose why they have raised their prices even though they have not had any expenses with developing this drug.^[7]

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