#BIOSPAIN2025 | “It represents an opportunity to share knowledge, explore new avenues of collaboration, and connect with key stakeholders in the sector”

Within the framework of BIOSPAIN 2025, taking place in Barcelona from October 7 to 9, we spoke with José María Giménez Arnau, Chief Scientific & Medical Officer at ESTEVE, a company participating as a Gold Sponsor of the event. This international benchmark in biotechnology and health innovation will bring together key stakeholders to share knowledge, foster strategic partnerships, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

In the interview, Giménez Arnau highlights ESTEVE’s commitment to innovation in highly specialized medicine, the challenges posed by international expansion in diverse regulatory environments, and the company’s determination to advance toward a more sustainable future. A vision that underscores ESTEVE’s ambition to consolidate its role as a global reference in high-value therapeutic solutions.

AseBio. What is ESTEVE’s strategic vision in the field of highly specialized medicine, and how does it translate into its focus on areas such as rare diseases or pediatric populations?

José María Giménez Arnau. ESTEVE has a clear vision: to consolidate its position as an international pharmaceutical company specialized in providing innovative solutions for complex, rare, or sensitive-population diseases, such as pediatric conditions, where there are still significant unmet needs.

In line with this commitment, in recent months it has reinforced its positioning by incorporating reference medicines in areas such as oncology, endocrinology, and rare diseases. These strategic acquisitions expand its reach in highly specialized medicine across more than 50 countries, including Europe and the U.S., consolidating its vocation to be close to those who need it most.

AseBio. What role does innovation play in your development model, and could you share a recent example that illustrates this commitment to precision medicine?

José María Giménez Arnau. Innovation is part of ESTEVE’s DNA and represents one of the key pillars of its growth model. It focuses particularly on opportunities in late clinical phases or on established medicines with potential to grow or expand into new areas. Its model integrates these treatments in an agile, efficient, and sustainable way, thus generating greater value for people.

Furthermore, it connects with platforms leading health innovation. It collaborates with organizations such as Barcelona Tech, BioSpain, and Biocat, demonstrating its commitment to the scientific and technological ecosystems that are shaping the medicine of tomorrow.

AseBio. After years of strengthening your international presence, what challenges does that process involve, and how do you adapt to different regulatory frameworks without losing your identity?

José María Giménez Arnau.Internationalization is key to ESTEVE’s transformation, bringing major opportunities but also significant challenges. Adapting to diverse regulatory frameworks or building a coherent identity in Europe, the U.S., and other markets through partners requires a deep evolution of its capabilities and organizational culture.

To address this complexity, it defines a common purpose, supported by a strong culture based on shared values and clear leadership principles. Its strategy focuses on areas of high medical complexity —such as rare or low-prevalence diseases— with an agile, flexible, and sustainable operating model.

AseBio. Which markets are currently a priority for ESTEVE, and what strategies is it following to consolidate its global position?

José María Giménez Arnau. ESTEVE’s current priority markets are Europe and the United States, where it has strengthened its direct presence through subsidiaries and strategic agreements. This expansion responds to a clear vision: to consolidate itself as an international benchmark company in specialized medicine and, above all, to ensure that its treatments reach all patients who need them, whether directly or through alliances with local partners. Its value proposition focuses on therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs, thus reaffirming its commitment to global health.

AseBio. Alongside growth, what does moving toward a more sustainable future mean for the company, and what initiatives stand out on this path?

José María Giménez Arnau.Moving toward a more sustainable future is a strategic priority for ESTEVE, understood as a way to grow with positive and long-term impact. Sustainability is integrated into its business model through three pillars: care for the environment, people, and business.

It has made concrete commitments such as achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, promoting renewable energy use, and fostering a circular economy. On a social level, it is committed to diversity, equal opportunities, and collaboration with patient associations and social organizations. On the business side, it incorporates sustainability into every strategic decision, ensuring responsible, ethical growth aligned with stakeholder expectations.

This approach enables the company to consolidate its international expansion without losing its identity, reinforcing its role as a company committed to health, the environment, and society.

AseBio. How does it integrate ESG criteria into strategic decision-making, and what progress has it made in terms of diversity, social impact, or environmental goals?

José María Giménez Arnau. ESTEVE integrates ESG criteria as a core axis of its strategy, based on a responsible and sustainable growth model. It has a strong governance structure that includes the Board of Directors, the Executive Management, a cross-functional Sustainability Committee, and a network of ambassadors promoting this vision throughout the organization.

On the environmental front, it is working toward carbon neutrality by 2050, through the use of renewable energy and the promotion of sustainable mobility. Socially, it fosters a safe, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for more than 2,000 employees and collaborates with patient associations and social entities to support people’s well-being.

Its ethical culture, based on transparency and regulatory compliance, builds trust and reinforces its commitment to health, society, and the planet.

In terms of sustainability, last year ESTEVE advanced in reducing its environmental impact and in renewable energy use. It also reinforced its commitment to diversity, bringing in new talent and maintaining a balanced representation of women in management positions. Socially, it allocated more than one million euros to solidarity initiatives and collaborations with healthcare professionals.

AseBio. According to your 2024 Annual Report, what are the main results you would highlight, and what milestones marked the year for the company?

José María Giménez Arnau. ESTEVE closed a key year in its roadmap to consolidate itself as an international company in specialized medicine. During this period, it achieved sustained growth, reaching total revenues of €744 million, representing a 5% increase over 2023.

This progress was reflected both in its CDMO business —providing development and manufacturing services of pharmaceutical active ingredients for third parties— and in its pharmaceutical business, which grew by 15.8%. EBITDA reached €138 million, 8% more than the previous year.

In addition, it reinforced its focus on specialization through strategic acquisitions in areas such as oncology and pediatric endocrinology, along with new international licenses that expanded and strengthened its portfolio of highly specialized medicines. Its international presence also consolidated, especially in Europe and the United States, while expanding its distribution network to more than 50 countries.

Investment in R&D exceeded €46 million, representing more than 6% of its revenues and reaffirming its commitment to developing innovative therapeutic solutions.

Overall, these results reflect the effectiveness of a strategy based on innovation, internationalization, and a strong commitment to people, the environment, and global health.

AseBio. What role did innovation play in the 2024 results, and how did it contribute to the company’s growth?

José María Giménez Arnau. In 2024, innovation was key to ESTEVE’s growth, strengthening its positioning in specialized medicine and allowing it to progress in a solid and sustainable way.

Thanks to an agile and strategic model, it is advancing the development of a new pain treatment —currently in regulatory review in several countries— and is carrying out acquisitions focused on rare diseases, rare cancers, and pediatric endocrine disorders.

These operations broaden its access to highly specialized treatments, strengthen its international presence, and contribute to the 15.8% growth in its pharmaceutical business. Altogether, this consolidates innovation as an essential axis of its present and future.

AseBio. What lessons and priorities emerged from the last financial year, and what are the main objectives for 2025?

José María Giménez Arnau. From the 2024 financial year, ESTEVE draws key lessons that reinforce its vision of sustainable growth, internationalization, and specialization. One of the main lessons is its ability to combine strategic agility with a strong corporate culture, which allows it to maintain its identity and focus on innovation.

Its priorities include:

• Deepening specialization in complex therapeutic areas, strengthening its presence through acquisitions and strategic licenses.
• Driving innovation with significant R&D investment and partnerships with centers of excellence.
• Advancing sustainability, reducing its carbon footprint, using only renewable energy, and promoting diversity in management positions.

Looking ahead to 2025, its objectives include:

• Consolidating its international pharmaceutical platform, especially in Europe and the U.S., with highly specialized products.
• Increasing its industrial and technological capacity in the CDMO area through new investments in plants and scalable platforms.
• Strengthening its social and environmental impact, progressing toward carbon neutrality, and expanding diversity and inclusion initiatives.

These objectives reflect a strategy consistent with its purpose: improving people’s lives through innovative, sustainable, and high-value-added solutions.

AseBio. Why has ESTEVE decided to support BIOSPAIN 2025 as a Gold Sponsor, and what does it expect from participating in an event of this magnitude?

José María Giménez Arnau. ESTEVE supports BIOSPAIN 2025 as a Gold Sponsor as part of its commitment to biomedical innovation and the construction of a more collaborative, specialized, and sustainable health ecosystem. It recognizes the key role BIOSPAIN plays in promoting the biomedical sector in Spain and internationally.

The fact that BIOSPAIN is once again held in Barcelona strengthens its ties with the local scientific and business environment. Participating as a sponsoring company makes it possible to showcase its work in highly specialized medicine and strengthen strategic alliances.

This gathering represents an opportunity to share knowledge, explore new avenues of collaboration, and connect with key players in the sector. ESTEVE trusts that BIOSPAIN 2025 will help further position it as a global, innovative company committed to the health of the future.