Key facts and events

It all began in 1919 in Ancona, an Italian city on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. Here, Francesco Angelini set up a small pharmaceutical laboratory. Then in 1941, he founded ACRAF, Aziende Chimiche Riunite Angelini Francesco, producing and distributing pharmaceuticals.

In the aftermath of World War II, anaemia was a widespread problem in Italy. The company was the first to import a key treatment for this condition, vitamin B12, to Italy. It was sold under the name of Dobetin® and was a major success.

It all began in 1919 in Ancona, an Italian city on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. Here, Francesco Angelini set up a small pharmaceutical laboratory. Then in 1941, he founded ACRAF, Aziende Chimiche Riunite Angelini Francesco, producing and distributing pharmaceuticals.

In the aftermath of World War II, anaemia was a widespread problem in Italy. The company was the first to import a key treatment for this condition, vitamin B12, to Italy. It was sold under the name of Dobetin® and was a major success.

In these years, the first original molecules discovered by Angelini pharmaceutical research began production. A series of important and innovative molecules were discovered and developed in the 1960s and 1970s, including oxolamine (anti-cough), benzydamine (anti-inflammatory), trazodone (antidepressant) and dapiprazole (anti-glaucoma).

Angelini Pharma started its expansion abroad by creating production facilities and commercial structures in Spain and Portugal. Activities in the Iberian Peninsula began in 1979 with the acquisition of Barcelona’s Lepori Group.

In these years, the company understood the importance of advertising and marketing of its products.
In 1985, came the first example of marketing techniques applied to pharmaceutical products in Italy. Angelini Pharma saw great potential for the analgesic ibuprofen and launched it as an analgesic for headache under the brand name of Moment®. It was a tremendous success!

From the start of the new century, Angelini Group began a series of strategic acquisitions to reinforce its international footprint, first in the Iberian Peninsula and later in other European countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.

In 2000, Amuchina®, a Genoa-based company that produced disinfectants and sanitisers, joined the Group and, in 2003, Angelini Pharma entered the phytotherapy and supplements market with Body Spring®. In 2011, the company purchased the Infasil® brand from P&G, an Italian leader in deodorants and personal care products.

Angelini Pharma continued its path of internationalisation. The Company signed agreements with leading multinational pharmaceutical companies to market a wide range of products: Resilient® (prolonged-release lithium salt) and Latuda® (lurasidone hydrochloride) for mental health; Vellofent® (fentanil) and Tachifene® (paracetamol and ibuoprofen) for pain and inflammation.

In 2020, Angelini Pharma acquired the ThermaCare® global business rights (excl. US). 

In 2021, Angelini Pharma strengthened its positioning in Brain Health with the acquisition of Arvelle Therapeutics.