Rotta Research Laboratory

Rottapharm, originally founded as Rotta Research Laboratory in 1961 by Luigi Rovati, was a prominent Italian pharmaceutical company headquartered in Monza. The company specialized in the research, development, and commercialization of original drugs and consumer health products, with a particular focus on rheumatology, gynecology, and gastroenterology. It is best known for developing crystalline glucosamine sulfate (Dona) for the treatment of osteoarthritis, which became a global standard in joint health. In 2014, the company was acquired by the Swedish specialty pharma Meda AB for approximately $3.1 billion, and its commercial operations were subsequently integrated into Mylan and later Viatris. A separate R&D entity, Rottapharm Biotech, was spun off during the acquisition to continue early-stage drug discovery and development.