BOSTON– Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., an international research-focused healthcare group, announced the formation of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, a new business unit that will harness the full resources of the Chiesi Group to advance research and new product development for rare and ultra-rare diseases.
The unit will be headquartered in Boston and have an initial focus on research and product development in lysosomal storage disorders, rare haematology and ophthalmology disorders, the company said in a statement.
“Chiesi has a long history of success in discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies to address unmet needs for people living with rare diseases. With the Chiesi Global Rare Diseases unit, we are taking this to an entirely new level – rededicating and strengthening our efforts to support individuals and families affected by rare diseases all around the world,” said Giacomo Chiesi, Head of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases. “We are officially launching the division in advance of the WORLDSymposium, one of the most important annual meetings focused on rare diseases. During the meeting, we look forward to connecting with many members of the lysosomal storage disorder and broader rare disease communities to outline our hopes and goals for the division and identify opportunities for us to collaborate in research and patient advocacy.”
Boston Business Journal reported that Chiesi will open up a 10-person office in Boston this year and plans to expand to 40 to 50 staff members by the end of 2021. The Parma, Italy-based company has around 5,600 employees worldwide.
“The Boston office will specifically be focused on rare blood, ophthalmology and lysosomal storage disorders. The drugmaker opened its U.S. headquarters in North Carolina last year to accommodate continuing growth,” Boston Business Journal said.
