For over 130 years, Dompé farmaceutici has represented one of the most advanced expressions of Made in Italy in the scientific field. Founded in Milan in the late 19th century as a family-run pharmaceutical laboratory, today it is an international biopharmaceutical company that combines research, technology, and entrepreneurial vision, contributing to the development of innovative therapies and bringing Italian excellence in the life sciences to the world.
With headquarters in Milan and strategic hubs in Italy, Europe, and the United States, Dompé is today a symbol of Made in Italy excellence, capable of expressing itself even in the most advanced sectors of biotechnology research, demonstrating how scientific innovation can be born from profoundly Italian roots.
The origins: an italian story of science and vision
The history of Dompé Farmaceutici began at the end of the 19th century, when pharmacist and chemist Onorato Dompé founded the Dompé-Adami pharmaceutical production laboratory. Thanks to the laboratory’s success, Onorato created a network of pharmacies, the Farmacie Inglesi Dompé, which he sold in the 1920s to devote himself exclusively to production.
Throughout the twentieth century, the company grew alongside the country, embracing major industrial transformations and contributing to the development of the national pharmaceutical sector. From a family-run laboratory, Dompé gradually evolved into a structured industrial enterprise, while maintaining strong ties to research and the local community.
This ability to evolve without losing its identity is one of the company’s distinctive elements, which continues to combine scientific tradition and entrepreneurial vision.
Milan, L’Aquila, and the United States: an Italian company with a global vision
Today, Dompé Farmaceutici is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Milan, where its strategic and management functions are concentrated. Alongside the headquarters, one of the group’s most important hubs is the research and production center in L’Aquila. This high-tech hub represents a benchmark for biopharmaceutical innovation in Italy.
The company’s international presence also extends to the United States, particularly Boston and Silicon Valley, two of the world’s most important ecosystems for scientific research and innovation. This international network allows Dompé to operate on a global scale while maintaining a profoundly Italian identity. The group currently employs over 950 people worldwide, including researchers, scientists, technicians, and highly qualified professionals – a human capital that represents one of the main drivers of its growth.
Innovation as a mission: from scientific discovery to therapy
Research is at the heart of Dompé’s strategy. The company has become an international leader thanks to the therapeutic development of the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), the protein discovered by Italian scientist Rita Levi-Montalcini, a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine.
Building on this discovery, Dompé developed Cenegermin, an innovative therapy for the treatment of rare eye diseases, now approved by major international regulatory authorities. This achievement represents a concrete example of how Italian scientific research can translate into therapeutic solutions that improve patients’ lives around the world.
The company is also pioneering a new frontier in biopharmaceutical research, using supercomputing and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of new drugs. Through its Exscalate laboratory and state-of-the-art supercomputers, Dompé is able to analyze millions of molecules and identify potential therapeutic solutions much faster than traditional methods.
L’Aquila: investing in the region and the future
The L’Aquila hub is one of the group’s most advanced centers and demonstrates the deep connection between Dompé and Italy. After the 2009 earthquake, the company chose to continue investing in the city, contributing to its economic and scientific rebirth. Today, the site hosts highly specialized biopharmaceutical research and production activities. It represents a concrete example of how a company can generate not only economic, but also social and regional value. This commitment reflects an entrepreneurial vision that considers innovation and growth as tools to contribute to the country’s development.
Scientific Made in Italy: a far-sighted vision
The history of Dompé Farmaceutici demonstrates how Made in Italy can express itself even in the most advanced fields of science and technology. The company represents a model of independent enterprise, capable of competing on a global scale while maintaining its strong Italian roots. The combination of research, entrepreneurial vision, and the development of human capital has enabled Dompé to build a solid, coherent growth path, transforming it into an internationally recognized company.
From Milan to the world’s leading scientific hubs, Dompé continues to embody a profoundly Italian identity, contributing to the development of future medicine and confirming how Made in Italy can be synonymous not only with creativity and design, but also with scientific excellence and technological innovation.
Discover other outstanding Made in Italy companies in the pharmaceutical industry.