Abolis Bio joins forces with EUROAPI to strengthen corticosteroid production

French biotech Abolis Biotechnologies has signed a strategic partnership with EUROAPI (EPA: EAPI) to develop microbial strains and bioprocesses for the production of corticosteroids and related active ingredients. The collaboration is part of the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Med4Cure program, backed by up to 140 million euros ($150 million) in public funding under France 2030.

The partnership aims to reduce Europe’s heavy dependence on Asian suppliers, who currently account for around 80% of the global corticosteroid market. Production will take place at EUROAPI’s facilities in St Aubin-lès-Elbeuf, Normandy, and Vertolaye, Auvergne, the latter being the only European site making such treatments. Abolis will receive funding from Bpifrance and EUROAPI over four years.

The initiative brings together several academic partners, including the Institute of Chemistry for Health at Chimie Paris Tech, the CARMEN laboratory at INSA Rouen, the CEISAM laboratory at the University of Nantes, and Toulouse INP. According to Abolis president Cyrille Pauthenier, the partnership will help “regain European pharmaceutical sovereignty” by combining biotechnology and chemistry to create a more secure and sustainable supply chain. EUROAPI chief executive David Seignolle said the program reflects a wider effort to “work together on regaining pharmaceutical sovereignty,” particularly in corticosteroids.