Chemical Pharmaceutical Research Institute

The Chemical Pharmaceutical Research Institute (NIHFI), based in Sofia, Bulgaria, is a historic pharmaceutical research and development organization founded in 1948. Originally the central R&D hub for the Bulgarian state pharmaceutical industry, it was privatized and is now a key subsidiary of Sopharma, the largest pharmaceutical company in Bulgaria. NIHFI is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in natural product chemistry and the development of original drugs, most notably Nivalin (galantamine) for Alzheimer's disease and Tabex (cytisine) for smoking cessation. The institute provides a wide range of services, including drug discovery, formulation development, and the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Today, it continues to support Sopharma's pipeline while operating as a specialized center for chemical and pharmaceutical research.