Our History

Building the Foundation:

Chiesi was founded in 1935 in Parma, Italy, when Giacomo Chiesi, a chemist, established the first laboratory.

In the 1940s, the laboratory expanded steadily and, over time, began exporting its products all over the world.

During the Second World War, parts of the company were destroyed in a bombing raid, but soon recovered with the launch of Chiesi's first penicillin-based ointment. By 1955, a purpose-built factory was constructed with 50 employees researching, developing, and manufacturing an extensive range of innovative medicines.

In 1966, Giacomo Chiesi handed over the management of the company to his two sons Alberto and Paolo Chiesi.

1979 represented a significant turning point in the company's history with the launch of its first asthma medicine.

Improving Health, Recognising Achievements:

Chiesi had quickly expanded its services in the respiratory and cardiovascular therapeutic areas, and began research into, and production of, pharmaceutical products for neonatal diseases and rare diseases, as well as musculoskeletal and vascular disorders. From the 1980s onwards, Chiesi's interest expanded to areas such as anti-inflammatory drugs and medicines for pain relief.

As Chiesi celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1985, the company achieved a significant milestone in its mission to offer innovative and effective treatment options to improve the level of care for preterm babies.

Inspired by the vision and example of Alberto and Paolo Chiesi, their children: Alessandro, Andrea, Giacomo and Maria Paola Chiesi joined the Company. Their drive and ambition has opened up new lines of research and development at Chiesi.

The UK arm of the global Chiesi group was established in 1999. Today, there are 31 Chiesi offices across the world.

Empowering through Knowledge:

The Chiesi Foundation marked a pivotal moment in the company's quest to promote access to knowledge and quality neonatal and respiratory care in countries where access to quality heatlhcare is not always guaranteed.

By providing expertise, technical support and capacity building for healthcare workers, as well as delivering innovative and sustainable technologies for health facilities, Chiesi empowers those who lack direct access to receive the support they deserve.

Transparency and Responsibility:

Chiesi's Shared Value & Sustainability (SV&S) Department is solely dedicated to measuring and quantifying our impact on society and the environment.

We began reporting on our SV&S activity, providing public transparency about our company-wide environmental and societal performance.

Pioneering Sustainability:

Unveiling our first Sustanaibility Strategic Plan in 2018, we integrated sustainability into our company’s business model and publicly declared intent to generate shared value for both the business and society.

Leading the Way:

We announced a 5-year €350 million plan to invest in low global warming innovations to treat respiratory diseases. This was later raised to €400 million.

We also achieved B Corp Certification in 2019, joining a global movement working to benefit people and the planet. . With a commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2035, we invest significantly in reducing our carbon footprint.

Taking Action, Making Impact:

After setting ambitious environmental targets, the ActionOverWords campaign was launched to encourage measurable sustainability commitments and invite accountability. The campaign emphasises the importance of the larger global corporate sustainability movement, encouraging conversations about corporate action and the need to move from celebrating commitments, to celebrating measurable progress.

Strengthening Our Resolve:

In 2022, Chiesi increased its B Impact score by 16.3 points to 103.8 out of 200, up from 87.5 at its initial certification in 2019 - reflecting continued progress in its commitment to people and the planet.

Expanding Access, Driving Innovation:

Our current priorities focus on expanding access to our therapies to support greater health equity, including improving diagnosis and enabling appropriate treatment for patients, delivering tailored solutions for the NHS through our strategic collaborations, and enhancing how we connect with patients and healthcare professionals to reach those who may benefit most.

In 2025, Chiesi was recertified as a B Corp, achieving a B Impact score of 117 out of 200 - up 13.7 points from 2022 and demonstrating continuous improvement since 2019.