Compañía Española de Penicilina y Antibióticos

Compañía Española de Penicilina y Antibióticos (CEPA) was the first Spanish company to manufacture penicillin and played a pioneering role in Spain’s antibiotics industry. Founded in Madrid in October 1949 with support from Banco Urquijo and using Merck patents/technology, it launched its Aranjuez plant in June 1951. CEPA developed several key antibiotics including fosfomycin—co-developed with Merck—and expanded into macrolide production such as erythromycin derivatives. The company was acquired by ERT in the mid-'70s and ultimately dissolved/split after the formation of Ercros group; its pharmaceutical activities continued under successor companies.