IAF BioChem International

IAF BioChem International, later known as BioChem Pharma, was a prominent Canadian biopharmaceutical company founded in 1986 by Francesco Bellini, Bernard Belleau, and Gervais Dionne. The company is most famous for developing 3TC (lamivudine), a breakthrough antiviral drug that became a cornerstone of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV/AIDS. Beyond its success in virology, the company expanded into vaccines and other therapeutic areas through various subsidiaries and partnerships. In 2001, the company was acquired by Shire Pharmaceuticals in a multi-billion dollar transaction, marking one of the largest exits in Canadian biotech history. Its legacy continues through the widespread clinical use of lamivudine and the subsequent ventures of its founding team.