bioMérieux invests in France with a new facility to produce innovative diagnostics for the European market

bioMérieux invests in France with a new facility to produce innovative diagnostics for the European market

Marcy l’Étoile, France – May 29, 2026 – bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, announces a strategic investment of more than €250 million to build a new manufacturing facility in France (La Balme-les-Grottes, Isère) dedicated to the production of PCR tests from its BIOFIRE® range. The project is expected to create approximately 400 jobs over time. This new facility will help secure the supply of essential diagnostic solutions for the European market while strengthening the resilience of healthcare systems in the face of infectious diseases.

The foundation stone for the future building was officially laid on Friday, May 29, with Alain Mérieux, Chairman of Institut Mérieux; Alexandre Mérieux, Chairman of bioMérieux; Pierre Boulud, Chief Executive Officer of bioMérieux; Fabrice Pannekoucke, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region; and Sébastien Martin, French Minister Delegate for Industry.

“Combating infectious diseases requires sustained commitment and long-term mobilization. This project represents a major investment in strengthening public health capabilities. It also reflects our determination to further anchor our industrial footprint in France, particularly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where our roots lie,” stated Alexandre Mérieux, Chairman of bioMérieux.

Strengthening European Sovereignty in the Fight Against Infectious Diseases

At this new manufacturing facility, designed in line with the highest industrial and environmental standards, bioMérieux will produce syndromic PCR tests from its BIOFIRE® range. These solutions enable the identification of the main causes of respiratory, bloodstream, gastrointestinal, and meningitis, within 15 to 60 minutes and from a single sample. They play a key role in improving the timeliness and clinical relevance of patient care, while enhancing healthcare systems’ capacity to respond effectively to public health crises.

Production at the La Balme facility will primarily serve the European market and will complement existing manufacturing capabilities at the Company’s site in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States). This new facility will enable bioMérieux to sustainably strengthen its industrial capacities in France and support the growing demand for infectious disease diagnostics.

“Syndromic testing represents nearly 40% of our sales. With this new manufacturing facility, we are supporting long-term growth while further strengthening the resilience of our supply chain, particularly for healthcare professionals and patients across Europe,” declared Pierre Boulud, Chief Executive Officer of bioMérieux.

A Longstanding Site Undergoing Significant Expansion

For more than 40 years, the La Balme-les-Grottes site (Isère, France) has been one of bioMérieux’s key industrial pillars. Today, it employs nearly 600 people across high value-added research and development and manufacturing activities. In recent years, the site has benefited from several investments. In 2023 and 2024, two strategic infrastructures were inaugurated as part of the Company’s vertical integration strategy: a next-generation microbiology R&D building and a manufacturing unit to internalize a key production step. The new project of molecular biology test manufacturing builds on this momentum and is expected to create approximately 400 additional direct jobs over time.

“bioMérieux’s investment is excellent news for our health and industrial sovereignty. By choosing to manufacture strategic diagnostics for Europe in France, bioMérieux is demonstrating its confidence in our industry, our territory, and our expertise. This project concretely illustrates our ambition to reindustrialize France around cutting-edge technologies, create highly skilled jobs, and secure our production capabilities in sectors that are essential for both France and Europe,” added Sébastien Martin, French Minister Delegate for Industry.

An Ambitious and Sustainable Industrial Project

“From the outset, this project was designed to combine advanced industrial technologies with sustainability. The new building will be constructed on an existing brownfield site, thereby minimizing land use. Its design will enable resource-efficient operations, notably with an almost fully decarbonized energy mix. In addition, the location of this facility in France will help optimize logistics and avoid nearly 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year in shipping compared to importing from our facility in North America,” said Guillaume Maestri, La Balme-les-Grottes Site Director.

Developed in close collaboration with local stakeholders and public authorities, the project will also incorporate a range of solutions aimed at reducing its environmental footprint, including solar panels, green roofs, permeable parking areas, sustainable management of outdoor spaces, rainwater harvesting, and measures to preserve biodiversity and ecological corridors.

The new manufacturing facility is scheduled to be operational in 2030.

ABOUT SYNDROMIC TESTING

Syndromic molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases make it possible to identify, within a rapid timeframe—typically ranging from 15 minutes to one hour—the main pathogens responsible for a given syndrome (respiratory, gastrointestinal, meningitis, etc.) from a single sample.

This breakthrough technology is transforming patient management, particularly as it can now be deployed at the point of care, close to the patient. By significantly accelerating time-to-result, it enables faster and more appropriate patient triage, especially in emergency and critical care settings where every minute counts. It also improves the accuracy of treatment decisions by reducing inappropriate prescriptions. Through its critical contribution to the appropriate use of antibiotics, it represents an essential tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, a growing threat to global public health.

ABOUT BIOMÉRIEUX

Pioneering Diagnostics

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics since 1963, bioMérieux is present in 45 countries and serves more than 160 countries with the support of a large network of distributors. In 2025, revenues reached €4.1 billion, with over 94% of sales outside of France.

bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (systems, reagents, software and services) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are mainly used for diagnosing infectious diseases. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

www.biomerieux.com.

bioMérieux is listed on the Euronext Paris stock market.
Symbol: BIM – ISIN Code: FR0013280286
Reuters: BIOX.PA/Bloomberg: BIM.FP

CONTACTS

INVESTORS RELATIONS

bioMérieux
Aymeric Fichet
Tel: +33 (0)4 78 87 20 00
investor.relations@biomerieux.com

MEDIA RELATIONS

bioMérieux
Romain Duchez
Tel: +33 (0)4 78 87 20 00
media@biomerieux.com

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Isabelle de Segonzac
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