French Pharmaceutical Independence Gains Momentum in Isère
Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, Isère – A push for pharmaceutical sovereignty is taking shape in northern Isère, France, as the government prioritizes domestic production of essential medicines. Driven by lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis and geopolitical concerns, France is investing in bolstering its pharmaceutical industry, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Health Minister Stéphanie Rist visited the region on Friday, February 6th, to highlight the importance of securing France’s medicine supply. The impetus, she explained, stems from the disruptions experienced during the pandemic and a growing awareness of the need for self-sufficiency, particularly in light of calls from figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump to repatriate American manufacturing.
Two companies are at the forefront of this industrial resurgence in the area: Skyepharma and MaaT Pharma. Skyepharma, specializing in the production of complex tablets and capsules, now employs 220 people and aims to handle nearly the entire production process on-site. The company currently produces 500 million tablets or capsules annually, primarily for cancer patients.
“We want to say: we are autonomous in the production of medicines to treat our population,” explained Sébastien Mas, CEO of SkyePharma. “Today, we have the entire process here, but sometimes part of the active ingredients come from abroad, sometimes from France. A lot come from Europe, but increasingly from India or China. But otherwise, from powder to shipping, everything is done on site.”
Adjacent to Skyepharma, MaaT Pharma, with a workforce of 60, is pioneering a unique treatment in Europe: microbiome reconstruction. Founder Hervé Affagard described the company’s work as an effort to rebuild the intestinal microbiome – the community of microorganisms living in the gut – and, in doing so, bolster the immune system. The company is currently testing the treatment on leukemia patients, with promising early results.
“We want to reconstruct this immune system through the reconstruction of the intestinal microbiome. Typically for patients with leukemia. So it is a hope on a double level, it would be the first approved drug, and these patients, half died after 28 days and we are more than doubling survival at one year, so it is a real hope,” Affagard stated.
Both companies have benefited from the France 2030 investment plan, a government initiative designed to revitalize strategic industries. While Skyepharma has largely established a complete production chain within Isère, a critical component remains reliant on foreign sources: active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
Minister Rist emphasized the government’s ambition to achieve complete independence from countries like India and China for these essential ingredients, particularly given the current geopolitical landscape. “After Covid, there was a realization of the necessity of our sovereignty,” she said. “And the geopolitical news, and I don’t want to talk about the United States and its president, shows that, especially in medicine, we must be able to have this sovereignty in Europe. And I think the announcements by President Trump are also accelerating this search for sovereignty.”
The drive for pharmaceutical independence isn’t solely about securing supply chains; it’s also about job creation. If MaaT Pharma’s treatment receives approval, the company anticipates significant expansion and increased hiring. The future of pharmaceutical production in Isère, and across France, appears to be one of renewed investment, innovation, and a determined pursuit of self-reliance.
