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Chiesi and Bespak Partner to Advance Carbon Minimal Inhaler Production With UK Manufacturing Site

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Chiesi and Bespak Partner to Advance Carbon Minimal Inhaler Production With UK Manufacturing Site
Business

Business

Chiesi and Bespak Partner to Advance Carbon Minimal Inhaler Production With UK Manufacturing Site

2026-03-11 18:00 Last Updated At:03-12 12:41

PARMA, Italy & HOLMES CHAPEL, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 11, 2026--

Chiesi Group ("Chiesi"), the international research focused biopharmaceutical company and a certified B Corp, and Bespak, the specialist inhalation CDMO focused on pulmonary and nasal drug delivery, today announced an expansion of their long-standing partnership, increasing pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) manufacturing capacity at Bespak’s Holmes Chapel site to support the next phase of Chiesi’s Carbon Minimal Inhaler (CMI) program.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311319953/en/

Building on years of collaboration, the agreement reflects a shared long-term vision: delivering lower carbon inhaled therapies through CMIs at scale, without compromising clinical choice or continuity of care for patients. Both companies are committed to addressing climate change through measurable, science-based action. Chiesi’s ambition to reach Net Zero targets by 2035, and Bespak’s validated decarbonization roadmap, underpin a partnership grounded in shared sustainability principles.

Maria Paola Chiesi, Chiesi Group Vice Chair, said: “At Chiesi, sustainability is not an add-on; it is a commitment that guides our strategic choices. We know that inhalers are essential treatments, and that the environmental impact associated with them must be addressed without shifting the burden onto patients. The partnership with Bespak reinforces our efforts to reduce emissions across the value chain, while protecting access, quality and trust. Climate action and patient care must continue to advance hand in hand.”

To meet the needs of patients and reduce impact on the environment, Chiesi is working to be the only company to offer a portfolio of extrafine formulation Carbon Minimal Inhalers, including both dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and next generation propellant pMDIs. Chiesi’s CMI program is designed to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of pMDIs by up to 90%, through the transition to a next-generation, low global warming potential (GWP) propellant, while maintaining established treatment options and device familiarity for patients. Reinforcing the partnership with Bespak adds industrial scale and resilience to Chiesi’s journey, supporting a phased and responsible transition.

The expanded collaboration further strengthens Bespak’s position at the forefront of the global industry’s transition to next-generation, low-GWP propellants, and its Holmes Chapel site as a specialist pMDI manufacturing hub within the global pharmaceutical supply chain. Positioned in the North West of England’s inhalation R&D and manufacturing cluster, the site contributes high value skills, advanced technical expertise and long-term investment in sustainable inhaler manufacturing, for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems worldwide.

Giuseppe Accogli, Chiesi Group CEO, added: “This agreement strengthens an already established partnership with Bespak, and is a concrete example of how we translate our ambition into action. By working with trusted partners across our value chain, we can deliver sustainable innovation at scale while ensuring that patients receive their needed therapies.”

Chris Hirst, Bespak CEO, said: “Our collaboration with Chiesi has grown over time around a shared commitment to patient safety, technical excellence and sustainability. By deepening this partnership, we are accelerating the transition to low carbon pMDIs and reinforcing the UK’s role as a center of excellence for sustainable inhalation manufacturing. This is a position being recognized by the wider industry, leading to our Holmes Chapel site being selected as a key source of supply by leading brand owners like Chiesi, cementing our role as a strategic supply chain partner for the next generation propellant inhalers and innovative nasally-delivered therapies.”

About Chiesi Group

Chiesi is a research-oriented international biopharmaceutical group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment. By adopting the legal form of Benefit Corporation in Italy, the US, France and Colombia, Chiesi’s commitment to creating shared value for society as a whole is legally binding and central to company-wide decision-making. As a certified B Corp since 2019, Chiesi is part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. The company aims to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 2035. With 90 years of experience, Chiesi is headquartered in Parma (Italy), with 31 affiliates worldwide, and counts more than 7,500 employees. The Group’s research and development center in Parma works alongside 6 other important R&D hubs in France, the US, Canada, China, the UK, and Sweden.

For more information, visit chiesi.com or the website of your local Chiesi affiliate.

About Bespak

Bespak is a specialist inhalation contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) focused on pulmonary and nasal drug delivery. Trusted by the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Bespak delivers end-to-end capabilities across product development, clinical supply and commercial manufacturing of inhaled therapies for global supply.

Headquartered in Holmes Chapel, UK, with specialist manufacturing sites in Holmes Chapel and King’s Lynn, UK, Bespak develops and supplies pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) products, valves and actuators, complex dry powder inhaler (DPI) devices, nasal products and devices, and supports emerging inhalation technologies, including innovative soft mist systems.

Sustainability underpins every step of how Bespak operates and innovates. The company has taken clear and measurable steps to align with key United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and has set approved net-zero and near-term company-wide emissions targets with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Through collaboration and targeted investment, Bespak is accelerating the industry’s transition to more sustainable inhaled medicines.

Built on a long history of inhalation experience and ready for the future, Bespak is a long-term innovation partner creating lasting impact for patients and the planet.

 

Chiesi Group ("Chiesi"), the international research focused biopharmaceutical company and a certified B Corp, and Bespak, the specialist inhalation CDMO focused on pulmonary and nasal drug delivery, today announced an expansion of their long-standing partnership, increasing pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) manufacturing capacity at Bespak’s Holmes Chapel site to support the next phase of Chiesi’s Carbon Minimal Inhaler (CMI) program.

Chiesi Group ("Chiesi"), the international research focused biopharmaceutical company and a certified B Corp, and Bespak, the specialist inhalation CDMO focused on pulmonary and nasal drug delivery, today announced an expansion of their long-standing partnership, increasing pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) manufacturing capacity at Bespak’s Holmes Chapel site to support the next phase of Chiesi’s Carbon Minimal Inhaler (CMI) program.

PROVO, Utah (AP) — The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus was back in court Friday as a state judge weighs whether certain documents and proceedings should be open to the public.

The outcome will set the stage for an April hearing in which attorneys for Tyler Robinson will make their case to exclude TV cameras, microphones and photographers from the courtroom.

Judge Tony Graf has been weighing the public’s right to know details about the case against concerns by defense attorneys that the media attention could undermine Robinson’s right to a fair trial. Prosecutors, Kirk’s widow and attorneys for news organizations have urged Graf to keep the proceedings open.

Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson, 22, who is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 shooting of the conservative activist on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

Attorneys on Friday debated whether the defense's written request to exclude cameras, which was classified by the court as private, should be made public.

Staci Visser, an attorney for Robinson, told the judge that the defense is not arguing in the court of public opinion.

“There seems to be an idea that flooding the public sphere with information from this courtroom will somehow dispel conspiracy theories or shift public narratives. That, in and of itself, is concerning to the defense,” Visser said. “All we should be worried about is protecting what happens in this courtroom.”

Robinson’s defense team went on to say that an upcoming hearing will involve discussions about prejudicial pretrial publicity — for example, evidence that has yet to be admitted, confessions, personal opinions about guilt or public statements that would otherwise be inadmissible in court.

“We don’t want to be in that position of bringing in front of the court all of this prejudicial information and having the press regurgitate it yet one more time, and reinflicting a wound that we’re seeking to avoid,” defense attorney Michael Burt said.

Christopher Ballard, a prosecutor with the Utah County Attorney’s Office, dismissed those arguments. He said careful questioning during jury selection and tools like expanding the jury pool can ensure a defendant gets a fair trial.

“So just saying that this a content tornado or there's been a barrage of media coverage doesn't necessarily mean that there is going to be prejudice to the defendant,” Ballard said.

Ballard also said most of the evidence that will be discussed at the April 17 hearing is already public, so most of it should be open. But he agreed with the defense that parts of the hearing concerning personal privacy should be closed.

The judge will decide whether the hearing will be open or partially closed.

Coalitions of national and local news organizations, including The Associated Press, are fighting to preserve media access in the case.

Media access has been a focal point of several recent hearings, with the judge placing temporary restrictions on local TV stations for showing Robinson's shackles in violation of a court order and filming close-up shots that might allow viewers to interpret what he was discussing with his attorneys.

The judge also has prevented full video recordings of Kirk’s shooting from being shown in court after defense attorneys argued the graphic footage would interfere with a fair trial. An estimated 3,000 people attended the outdoor rally to hear Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA who helped mobilize young people to vote for President Donald Trump.

Prosecutors have said DNA evidence connects Robinson to the killing.

At a hearing in February, the judge declined to disqualify the local county attorney’s office from prosecuting the case after the defense argued there was a conflict of interest because a prosecutor’s daughter was present when Kirk was shot.

Prosecuting and defense attorneys and defendant Tyler Robinson, right, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)

Prosecuting and defense attorneys and defendant Tyler Robinson, right, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)

Prosecutor Chad Grunander, center, listens, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)

Prosecutor Chad Grunander, center, listens, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)

Attorney Richard Novak, left, and defendant Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing, in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool

Attorney Richard Novak, left, and defendant Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing, in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool

Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf presides, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)

Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf presides, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)

FILE - Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court, in Provo, Utah, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court, in Provo, Utah, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf presides over a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, Feb. 3, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf presides over a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, Feb. 3, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

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