This summer, Théa and Unither Pharmaceuticals announced a long-term industrial partnership to develop a new production unit dedicated primarily to Théa’s sterile ophthalmic products. The 20,000 m² facility is being built at Unither’s Gannat site, in the Allier department, in France’s Auvergne region.
The new unit will include several production lines for sterile preservative-free multidose bottles and unit-dose products. Once fully operational, it is expected to have the capacity to manufacture more than 50 million Théa treatments per year for the French and European markets.
Construction began in March 2025, with completion of the facilities expected by the end of 2026. The first pharmaceutical validation batches are planned from 2027, followed by industrial start-up in 2028 and the first commercialisation in 2029.
A dedicated manufacturing model
The project takes an unusual approach for the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. While production facilities operated by contract manufacturers are generally shared between several customers, the new unit will be primarily dedicated to Théa.
Designed and operated by Unither Pharmaceuticals, the facility is intended to provide Théa with dedicated industrial capacity to support its long-term growth in Europe, while leveraging Unither’s expertise in sterile technologies.
The partnership represents a total investment of more than €140 million.
Expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in Auvergne
The project also reinforces the industrial presence of both companies in the Auvergne region. Théa was founded and remains headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, while Unither’s Gannat site is one of the company’s major industrial facilities.
The development is expected to create 133 direct jobs by 2028 and nearly 250 by 2030. More than 130 people are currently involved in the construction project.
For Théa, the new facility will provide additional capacity to support the group’s European development. The company, which focuses exclusively on ophthalmology, operates in more than 75 countries and has more than 2,400 employees across 35 subsidiaries.
For Unither, the project adds to its role as a pharmaceutical CDMO specialising in sterile and non-sterile liquid dosage forms. The company is a global leader in sterile unit-dose production using Blow-Fill-Seal technology and supports pharmaceutical partners from formulation through to industrial production.
The project is supported by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region through its Pack Relocalisation programme for industrial investment.