Chiesi UK

Chiesi UK We work on important therapy areas, such as respiratory health, neonatology, organ transplantation and rare diseases.

We believe in using our business as a force for good and make decisions that deliver shared value for patients, people and the planet.

Look Beyond the Bias is an ongoing commitment to challenge stigma, judgement and blame. We’re working with leading patie...
26/11/2025

Look Beyond the Bias is an ongoing commitment to challenge stigma, judgement and
blame.

We’re working with leading patient organisations in the UK including The NKF - National Kidney Federation who has already conducted important research and advocacy to address this issue.

• In kidney disease, women - especially from ethnic minority backgrounds - are
referred for transplants later than men, despite being more likely to donate
• The British Liver Trust found that 90% of people affected by liver disease believe
these conditions remain stigmatised
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the second most common
lung disease in the UK, yet an estimated 2 million people may be living with it
undiagnosed – Asthma + Lung UK

We’re proud to work alongside patient organisations who are driving vital change in their communities.

👉Swipe to hear from our partners supporting

UK-CHI-2501011 | October 2025

19/11/2025

This year’s World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day theme is “Short
of Breath, Think COPD”.

Breathlessness is significantly misunderstood – it can easily be dismissed or blamed on something else. Actually, it's a potential sign of a serious lung disease.

For Sara, breathlessness due to her COPD impacts every part of her day. She often has
to force her words out to get it out in one breath, which can sound like
shouting. She’s been mistaken for being rude - or even drunk - for simply trying to
communicate.

Sara’s story is a powerful reminder of why we must Look Beyond the Bias and build
understanding around COPD. Because everyone deserves to be seen, heard and treated fairly.

https://www.chiesi.uk.com/look-beyond-the-bias



UK-CHI-2501054 | November 2025

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, lifelong condition caused by damage to the lungs, often leadin...
19/11/2025

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, lifelong condition caused by damage to the lungs, often leading to breathlessness, wheezing and coughing.

Because symptoms like breathlessness aren’t always visible, people with COPD often face bias. Jacqueline was labelled “lazy” for needing a chair at her cashier job. Sara, with just 25% lung capacity, has been accused of being rude or “drunk”.

👉 Swipe for key insights from our survey of 1,148 people living with chronic or genetic health conditions, including 374 people with COPD.



UK-CHI-2501053 | November 2025

17/11/2025

Sue, a mother of three, has lived with type 1 diabetes for 40 years. All three of her
children were born prematurely by caesarean section due to complications with her
condition.

Despite following strict medical advice, Sue remembers the judgement she faced
during and after her pregnancies - people implied she was ‘weak’, had made selfish
choices, or was a bad mother altogether.

We’re revisiting Sue’s story on World Prematurity Day to shine a light on the stigma
faced by parents of preterm babies - and to call for change. No one should be made to feel ashamed.

https://www.chiesi.uk.com/look-beyond-the-bias



UK-CHI-2501045 | November 2025

04/11/2025

Ben Jeska was 28, working full-time in retail, and living a busy social life when his health suddenly deteriorated. Within days, he was in hospital and fighting for his life.

Ben was eventually diagnosed with the rare liver disease primary sclerosing cholangitis and placed on the liver transplant list. He received his life-saving transplant last year.

Throughout this tough time, Ben has often felt judged, with people questioning whether drugs or alcohol were the cause. These assumptions left him feeling unsupported and dismissed at a time when he needed people the most.

“Liver disease isn’t always caused by alcohol or drug use. Even if it is, those people still deserve help, not hate.”

His story highlights the importance of looking beyond assumptions.

https://www.chiesi.uk.com/look-beyond-the-bias



UK-CHI-2501008 | October 2025

October has been about introducing ‘Look Beyond the Bias’ - raising awareness through powerful stories and insights from...
31/10/2025

October has been about introducing ‘Look Beyond the Bias’ - raising awareness through powerful stories and insights from our UK survey on disease-related bias.

We’ve heard from Sue, Ben, Sara, Jacqueline and Patricia, who’ve all faced stigma and been labelled in different ways – Ben, for example, was wrongly labelled an “addict” due to assumptions about his liver transplant.

📢In November, we’ll take a deeper dive into these stories - because the burden of bias goes far beyond the visible.

Follow to hear more and join the conversation.

UK-CHI-2500925 | September 2025

Patricia has lived with kidney disease for nearly 20 years. She has undergone dialysis, two transplants, and faced chall...
29/10/2025

Patricia has lived with kidney disease for nearly 20 years. She has undergone dialysis, two transplants, and faced challenges including problems at work.

Despite worsening mobility, she felt she was labelled a “phony” and told she was “milking it”, facing stigma and lack of support that led to early medical retirement.

Patricia is speaking up as part of ‘Look Beyond the Bias’ to highlight how assumptions and bias can silence people, delay diagnosis, and leave some conditions overlooked.

“If my story makes just one person stop and think before making an assumption, then it’s worth it.”



UK-CHI-2500924 | September 2025

28/10/2025

What if wearing your favourite outfit could leave you with painful wounds?

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare and life-altering skin condition that can make even the softest fabrics a source of pain. For people living with EB every stitch, seam, and tag can tear fragile skin and lead to severe blistering.

This EB Awareness Week, we’re proud to support the Debra International “Inside Out” campaign - standing with the EB community and helping raise awareness for those whose everyday experiences are shaped by extraordinary resilience.



Symptoms of EB may vary. If you or someone you know may be affected, please consult a healthcare professional for appropriate advice.

UK-CHI-2500996 | October 2025

Video has been created and funded by Chiesi GRD.

“They thought I was lazy.” Jacqueline, from Wandsworth, lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Her sym...
24/10/2025

“They thought I was lazy.”

Jacqueline, from Wandsworth, lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Her symptoms began years before diagnosis, but because her condition isn’t visible, she feels her condition was often dismissed.

“People didn’t believe me when I told them. I’d be struggling to breathe, exhausted after the simplest things, but because I didn’t ‘look ill,’ they thought I was lazy and exaggerating.”

At the time, Jacqueline worked as a cashier, standing for long hours. She asked for a chair to ease her symptoms. Her employer refused. No adjustments. No support. Eventually, she had no choice but to leave.

In a Chiesi UK survey of over 1,000 people living with chronic or genetic health conditions, or who have experienced a premature birth, 43% said they’d experienced health bias in the workplace.

For Jacqueline, the biggest barrier wasn’t just the disease - it was the lack of understanding and support from those around her.



UK-CHI-2500863 | September 2025

“People think I’m drunk.” Sara, 63, from Devon, has lived with asthma since she was young and was later diagnosed with c...
21/10/2025

“People think I’m drunk.”

Sara, 63, from Devon, has lived with asthma since she was young and was later diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Her breathlessness means she often has to force her words out quickly in one breath - which some mistake for shouting.

Instead of compassion, Sara has faced judgement. Struggling to breath and talk, people assume she’s drunk - avoiding her in the street, hanging up during calls, even shouting at her.

In a Chiesi UK survey of over 1,000 people living with chronic or genetic health conditions, or who have experienced a premature birth, 57% say fear of judgement has stopped them seeking support. For Sara, living with COPD is hard - but the bias she faces because of it is harder to live with.



UK-CHI-2500862 | September 2025

“Am I incapable of being a mother?” Sue, a mum of three from Nottinghamshire, faced judgement for having premature birth...
16/10/2025

“Am I incapable of being a mother?”

Sue, a mum of three from Nottinghamshire, faced judgement for having
premature births due to type 1 diabetes. Despite following medical advice, she often felt judgement from people in her life. She feels she’s been labelled as ‘weak’ for not being able to carry her babies to full term, as though her condition and choices made her a bad mother.

Sue’s story highlights how stigma can lead to shame, isolation and self-blame.



UK-CHI-2500860 | September 2025

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