Italian mid-cap firm Chiesi is continuing its expansion in the USA market with the launch of a Boston-based subsidiary focusing on rare and ultra-rare diseases.

 

We are very excited to put Chiesi’s decades of experience in drug development and dedication to patients to work to make a positive difference in the treatment of many rare diseases in the years ahead

Giacomo Chiesi, Chiesi Global Rare Diseases

The new business unit, Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, will initially focus on research and product development in lysosomal storage disorders, rare haematology and ophthalmology disorders, according to a company statement.

 

According to the Boston Business Journal, Chiesi will open a 10-person office in Boston this year and has plans to expand to around 50 staff members by the end of 2021.

 

Giacomo Chiesi, the newly appointed head of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, said in a statement that the Chiesi group has a long history of discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies to address unmet needs in 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,” he added.

 

Giacomo continued, “There are more than 7,000 rare diseases and for the vast majority, there are no treatments available. We are very excited to put Chiesi’s decades of experience in drug development and dedication to patients to work to make a positive difference in the treatment of many rare diseases in the years ahead. The patients are the beginning and the end of our journey.”

 

“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.”

 

The strengthening of the Chiesi group’s footprint in the USA – by far the world’s largest pharma market – comes hot on the heels of the 2019 opening of a US headquarters in North Carolina to accommodate continuing growth.”