Driving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

European Business: Mr Bonani, could you begin by giving us an overview of the history and development of the company?

Stefano Bonani: Savio Industrial is part of the Savio Group, a fully Italian, family-owned pharmaceutical group. The group was founded in 1981 thanks to the vision of Dr Emilio Stefanelli and his childhood friend Antonio. Their goal was to create a company capable of producing safe and effective pharmaceutical products while improving the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases. Over the years, the group has grown steadily to become one of the leading players in the Italian pharmaceutical industry, while maintaining a strong connection to its local roots and to the Stefanelli family, which still leads it today. The group now covers the entire pharmaceutical value chain, from research and development to the production and distribution of medical specialties, not only in Italy but also internationally.

European Business: What role does Savio Industrial play within the Savio Group?

Stefano Bonani: Savio Industrial was established in 2015 as part of a restructuring within the Savio Group to strengthen the group’s industrial activities and production capabilities. Today, we operate two manufacturing sites in Italy. One site, which specialises in medical devices in pre-filled syringes, is located in Ronco Scrivia near Genoa and dates back to 1925, when pharmacist Carlo Savio founded the original pharmaceutical manufacturing activities that later gave the group its name. In 2015, the company acquired its second site in Pavia from a large multinational that was divesting it. This plant specialises in coated and uncoated tablets as well as oral liquid forms. Since then, we have invested significantly in technology and expansion, for example by adding a production department for oral liquids and establishing research and development laboratories to further strengthen our manufacturing capabilities.

European Business: What kinds of pharmaceutical products does Savio Industrial specialize in?

Stefano Bonani: Our activities focus mainly on pharmaceutical products used to treat chronic diseases. These include therapies for diabetes, metabolic disorders, and osteopathologies. One example is a specific formulation of metformin using a prolonged-release system. This technology allows the active ingredient to be released gradually, improving both tolerability and therapeutic effectiveness for patients with type 2 diabetes. Our facilities are authorized to produce pharmaceutical products for global markets and operate in compliance with international Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

European Business: Do you mainly produce for the Savio Group or also for external partners?

Stefano Bonani: Both. Around 40% of our production is dedicated to the Savio Group itself, while approximately 60% is carried out for external partners. Many of these partners are multinational pharmaceutical companies. For example, we currently manufacture a cardiometabolic specialty product that is distributed worldwide for an American multinational company.

European Business: Sustainability and digital transformation are reshaping the pharmaceutical industry. How is Savio Industrial responding to these developments?

Stefano Bonani: As a pharmaceutical company, we are aware of our responsibility toward both society and the environment, which is why the Savio Group follows a holistic ESG approach. For example, we introduced a cogeneration system at one of our sites in 2018, significantly reducing carbon emissions, and recently completed our first sustainability report outlining our environmental and social goals. At the same time, digitalization plays a key role in our operations. Our sites already use highly automated processes, including automated warehouses and laser-guided vehicles for internal logistics. We are also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to analyze clinical data and optimize production processes.

European Business: How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your company?

Stefano Bonani: As a pharmaceutical manufacturer, we were part of the essential sectors that continued operating during the pandemic. Our production never stopped, although we had to reorganize internal processes to protect our employees and reduce infection risks. Thanks to the strong commitment of our teams, we maintained full operational continuity. The period was challenging, but it also highlighted the crucial role of pharmaceutical manufacturing for society.

European Business: What are your strategic goals for the coming years?

Stefano Bonani: Our main goal is to consolidate and further develop our existing activities while strengthening international partnerships. At the same time, we continue to closely monitor technological and scientific developments in order to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Ultimately, our mission remains unchanged: to contribute to improving the quality of life for patients worldwide through safe and effective pharmaceutical products.