Lepetit

Lepetit was a prominent Italian pharmaceutical company founded in 1868, recognized for its pioneering research in the field of anti-infectives. The company achieved global significance through the discovery of the rifamycin class of antibiotics, most notably Rifampicin, which remains a primary treatment for tuberculosis. Headquartered in Milan, Lepetit expanded into an international group before being acquired by Dow Chemical in 1964. Following several corporate mergers involving Marion Merrell Dow and Hoechst, the company was eventually integrated into Sanofi. Today, Lepetit's legacy is preserved through its essential medicines and its historical manufacturing sites in Italy, which continue to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company is a landmark in the history of natural product discovery and antibiotic development.