Can you give an overview of IDI Farmaceutici and the company’s role in the Italian life sciences sector?

In the late 1800s our founder, Father Sala, decided to devote himself to the treatment of skin diseases which lead to the idea of establishing IDI Farmaceutici. The company started as a small artisanal laboratory that was attached to the IDI Hospital in Rome: the Dermopathic Institute of the Immaculate Conception. The hospital is still in operation today and has a large resonance both on a national and international level. IDI Farmaceutici started working on products that could be useful to the cure and treatment of skin conditions. Over the years, the company has gained global recognition in the dermatological field, and in 1966 we built a facility in Pomezia to bring production to an industrial level. Today, the production facility spans an area of 40,000 m², and it contains an HQ office, a unit for the productions of dermo-cosmetics, and another one dedicated exclusively to the production of medicines, all dedicated to dermatology.

What are the advantages of operating as both a clinic and a pharma company?

Having a facility with a scientific department constantly focused on R&D innovation, but that can also benefit from the collaboration and advice of the doctors and dermatologists who work in the IDI Hospital is a great advantage. This collaboration has led to the development of our entire portfolio at a very high standard. Our production respects all GMP regulations and our R&D team receives expert inputs from real practice.

Can you highlight some of the main products in IDI Farmaceutici’s product portfolio?

The greatest part of our portfolio is represented by dermatological medicines and dermo-cosmetics products. In addition to medicines, we have also developed a medical devices line which we continue to improve through constant and very attentive research. We have innovative medical devices designed to treat and mitigate the symptoms of skin diseases. By exploiting the mechanical action of expertly blended ingredients and functional agents we developed some very pleasant-to-use and effective topical formulations. Complementing our therapeutic offer, we have added a small range of supplement foods used both as medications and for cosmetic purposes. IDI invested significantly in sunscreen products, creating unmatched products that enjoy a great reception from both our national and international clients.

Many of our products contain nicotinamide, a water-soluble amide form of niacin or vitamin B3, which is found in fish, eggs, poultry and cereal grains. This molecule stands at the basis of many of our formulations and medical devices but is also used in sunscreen products; the presence of nicotinamide creates a value-added element and a differentiating point for our products. Nicotinamide has a soothing and therapeutic effect on the skin, helping with conditions like acne, rosacea, blistering or atopic dermatitis.

Can you elaborate on IDI Farmaceutici’s UNICO project?

Our UNICO research project aims to create an innovative solar filter capable of effectively blocking UVA and UVB radiation as well as limiting the formation of free radicals thanks to its strong antioxidant activity. This is achieved through a "UNIQUE" natural biodegradable and eco-sustainable ingredient which will find application in the cosmeceutical field, helping to prevent skin photo-aging and related pathologies, also helping to significantly reduce the impact on the environment. The 15-month project integrates skills in the biomedical, chemical and industrial fields for the creation of an innovative "cosmeceutical" solar filter that is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It is known that solar radiation is the main cause of the onset of skin cancers and that sunscreens are highly polluting, therefore, a new environmentally friendly product is needed.

What are IDI Farmaceutici’s objectives for growth and international strategy?

IDI Farmaceutici is very well-known in Italy but has also had some good introductions on an international level. Today we are present in Albania and Kosovo. We are also increasingly expanding our presence in countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia. Our strategy is to continue expanding into foreign markets, both in Europe and outside of Europe.

In Italy, we have extremely high research and production capabilities that are recognized on an international level. We are very aligned with industry best practices and our aim is to continuously improve our product standards to be able to guarantee cutting-edge products with extremely high quality which can have an important impact on the Italian market and beyond.