Farmigea, a Journey into the History of a Company
The history of the Italian company Farmigea through the documents and artifacts preserved in its archive
By Museimpresa
Archivio Storico Farmigea
Archivio Storico Farmigea - Exhibition space with woman (Second half of the 1940s)Museimpresa
1946 - The Birth of Farmigea
On April 24, 1946, at 2 Via Carmignani in the historic center of Pisa, a group of entrepreneurs led by Giuseppe Rossini and Antonio Federighi founded "Farmigea". This marked the beginning of an important chapter in Italian pharmaceutical industrial history.
In the very early years of operation, the newly established pharmaceutical company in the pharmaceutical chemistry sector produces and markets generic pharmaceutical products inspired by German and American sources. However, due to the lack of originality in these products and limited marketing investments, the company struggles to achieve a positive financial outcome in its financial statements.
1949 - The era of the Federighi family begins
The less-than-promising start prompted Rossini and the other partners to sell the company within three years of its founding. In February 1949, Antonio Federighi, seeking to invest in the pharmaceutical sector, acquired Farmigea in its entirety.
The 1950s and Specialization in Ophthalmology
In the 1950s, Leopoldo Federighi, the son of founder Antonio Federighi, decided to specialize the company in the field of ophthalmology, a choice reinforced by excellent relationships with the academic world.
Archivio Storico Farmigea - Ophthalmic specialty price list (1957) by Mario MelandriMuseimpresa
There are many price lists and brochures dedicated to eye drops stored in the company's archive. Some of these feature very unique and modern graphics like this one, whose illustration, crafted by the hand of Mario Melandri.
A New Shape for Eye Drops
Interesting fact: The eye drops the company made back then were pioneering, coming in a squeezable plastic container with a distinctive curved spout for enhanced convenience.
Before, eye drops used to be in glass bottles with an inconvenient dropper in the cap.
The 1960s and the relationships with Congo
During the 1960s, under the leadership of Leopoldo Federighi, there was a significant push for international expansion. Farmigea, in particular, directed a substantial effort toward Congo, forging numerous and enduring commercial partnerships in the region.
Leopoldo Federighi identified a promising business opportunity during his numerous personal trips to the African country. This prompted him to establish Farmigea's branch in Congo. Subsequently, thanks to Leopoldo's extended stays in various regions of Congo, the opportunity emerged not only to export products but also to initiate local production. Consequently, Farmigea, in collaboration with the Biagini Institute, founded FARBIA with the aim of solidifying their presence in the Congo's market.
Archivio Storico Farmigea - Congo minister in the laboratoryMuseimpresa
The ministerial visits from Congo
The significant decade-long partnership between Farmigea and the Congo is evident through two Congolese ministerial delegations' visits to Pisa. They toured the historical facilities, gaining firsthand knowledge of the production site and signing important commercial agreements.
In Farmigea's archives, we store some of Leopoldo Federighi's correspondence from Congo. He wrote regularly to both the company and his family. What's intriguing about this material, besides its ability to reconstruct the company's dynamics and Leopoldo's personal experiences, is its indirect portrayal of the political evolution in the African country. Notably, postage stamps reveal the stages of the deep crisis that swept through the nation during those years.
Archivio Storico Farmigea - Farmigea's interiorMuseimpresa
The 1966 flood
Just like Florence, Pisa was also hit by the flood on November 4, 1966. The Farmigea headquarters, located just a few hundred meters from the Arno River, were also engulfed by water and mud, resulting in significant damage, as attested by numerous photographs and documents.
The 1970s and the new gynecological product line
In the 1970s, alongside the ophthalmic line, there was an especially innovative gynecological line that remained part of the company's assets until 2008.
In 1971, Farmigea became a joint-stock company, assuming its final name, Farmigea S.p.A. While Leopoldo was overseeing affairs in Congo, his younger brother, Alberto Federighi, took over the company's leadership. With the assistance of Professor Bianchini, they decided to introduce a gynecological product line alongside the ophthalmic line.
Archivio Storico Farmigea - Brochure of the gynecological product Trichomicida (Trichomycide). (1980s) by Litografia TacchiMuseimpresa
The product brochures of those years were characterized either by images inspired by the classical world or, as in this case, by the pathogenic microorganisms that the products aimed to combat.
The 1980s and the reclosable single-dose eye drop
The technology and the patent for the 'Reclosable Single-Dose Preservative-Free Eye Drops' bear the name of Farmigea and were the result of an extraordinary vision that the company had in the early '80s
In the late 1970s, Alberto and Leopoldo Federighi approached Farmigea's Research Department with a visionary request: to develop an initial conceptual project for their groundbreaking idea of creating sterile single-dose containers tailored to preserve preservative-free eye drops. The Research Department crafted initial technical designs with a primary focus on the container's shape, now an iconic feature with its distinctive side flaps.
Archivio Storico Farmigea - Pictograms for single-dose eye drops (1982)Museimpresa
This innovative design aimed to tackle two crucial challenges: streamlining industrial packaging processes and ensuring patients could effortlessly use the container, all while securely resealing it for optimal product preservation.
Archivio Storico Farmigea - Prototype container for single-dose eye drops (1982)Museimpresa
Fun fact: the first pilot batches were packaged in aluminum cases. This solution, while practical for initial experimental phases, was never marketed and was soon replaced by a more functional alternative: the use of plastic containers.
The 1990s and the innovative new technologies
The 1990s marked an extremely prosperous period for Farmigea, as it introduced significant and innovative additions to its product portfolio and new production technologies.
The 2000s and the new course
In 2001, through a Family Buyout operation, Mario and Federigo Federighi acquired the majority of the company. They relocated the plant from the historic center of Pisa to an industrial area with a new production facility.
A look into the future
Today, Farmigea is entering its fourth generational transition, with a continued focus on maintaining a strong connection between innovation and tradition.
