Abolis Biotechnologies, a French innovator specializing in industrial microbial biotechnology, has today announced a significant partnership with EUROAPI—one of the world’s leading producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)—aimed at restoring European production capacity for corticosteroids and reducing dependency on Asian manufacturing. The collaboration forms a central pillar of the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) in healthcare, specifically the Med4Cure program, and has garnered public financial support of up to €140 million through France 2030, coordinated by Bpifrance. This EU and French government-backed initiative mobilizes academic and industrial actors to reinforce sovereignty, address chronic supply chain vulnerabilities, and implement sustainability in the manufacture of essential pharmaceuticals.

Under the terms of the strategic partnership, Abolis Biotechnologies will develop advanced microbial strains and associated bioprocesses for the sustainable synthesis of key intermediates and over 20 pharmaceutical active ingredients, particularly within the corticosteroid family. These medicines are widely used in the treatment of allergic and autoimmune diseases in both hospital and private practice settings. The manufacturing of these critical APIs has, for years, been subject to structural and economic pressures that have led to recurring shortages across Europe. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that 80% of global corticosteroid production currently originates in Asia, primarily China and India, where lower costs and concentrated manufacturing capacity have created a precarious dependence for European healthcare providers.

The production, once restored, will be localized at EUROAPI’s industrial sites in St Aubin-lès-Elbeuf (Normandy) and Vertolaye (Auvergne), the latter being the only European facility to produce certain corticosteroids. This distributed manufacturing approach is designed to improve supply reliability while fostering regional economic growth and technological innovation in France. Abolis will receive funding from both Bpifrance and EUROAPI over a four-year period to accelerate the development and industrialization of these microbial bioprocesses. Crucially, the partnership leverages the synergy between advanced microbial engineering and traditional corticosteroid chemistry, creating a new model for pharmaceutical manufacturing rooted in both sustainability and innovation.

Beyond industrial implementation, the project integrates leading academic institutions, including Chimie Paris Tech, INSA Rouen's CARMEN laboratory, the CEISAM laboratory at the University of Nantes, and Toulouse INP, consolidating a robust collaborative ecosystem. This platform aims not just to deliver near-term manufacturing resilience, but also foster long-term R&D capability in bioproduction, process optimization, and the industrial microbiome across Europe. By combining the strengths of industrial and academic partners, the Med4Cure program is positioned as a strategic response to Europe’s repeated pharmaceutical shortages during geopolitical tensions or health crises.

Statements from the leadership reinforce the broader European vision. Cyrille Pauthenier, co-founder and President of Abolis Biotechnologies, underscored the drive for sustainable sovereignty and industrial upscaling through biotechnological innovation, while David Seignolle, CEO of EUROAPI, emphasized the goal of reducing critical dependencies via a pan-European collaborative network and the support of the IPCEI framework.

Abolis Biotechnologies, founded in 2014, has raised over €35 million and grown to more than 80 employees. Its industrial solutions are tailored to support multiple sectors—including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutrition—in their transition toward sustainable production models. For EUROAPI, this partnership further drives its ambition to reinvent API solutions and expand its Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services, supporting a portfolio of about 200 products globally. In sum, this partnership marks a turning point in Europe’s approach to pharmaceutical manufacturing by integrating advanced biotechnology, public-private investment, and strategic industrial policy to reinforce health sovereignty and innovation.