Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese

Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese (ISM), founded in 1894 by Serafino Belfanti, was a pioneering Italian institution dedicated to the production of vaccines, therapeutic sera, and biological products. For nearly a century, it served as a cornerstone of Italy's public health infrastructure, developing essential treatments for diphtheria, tetanus, and other infectious diseases. The institute also conducted significant academic research and published the influential Bollettino dell'Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese. Following financial difficulties in the late 20th century, the company entered liquidation in the 1990s, with its assets and production units being sold to various pharmaceutical entities. Its historical headquarters in Milan has since been repurposed, but its legacy remains significant in the history of Italian microbiology.