Gruppo Lepetit

Gruppo Lepetit was a prominent Italian pharmaceutical company founded in 1871, historically recognized for its world-class research in anti-infectives. The company is most famous for the discovery of the rifamycin class of antibiotics at its Gerenzano research center, leading to the development of rifampicin, a transformative treatment for tuberculosis. After being acquired by Dow Chemical in 1964, the company transitioned through various mergers including Marion Merrell Dow and Hoechst Marion Roussel, eventually becoming part of Sanofi. Its legacy remains significant in the biotech industry, as its research facilities and expertise laid the foundation for several specialized anti-infective companies like Biosearch Italia and Vicuron Pharmaceuticals.