History

Gentium was formed at the beginning of 2001 out of Crinos Industria Farmacobiologica SpA.

It incorporates the research and drug substances manufacturing divisions of Crinos. All Crinos patents have been transferred to Gentium. Crinos has been restructured and now exists as a separate, independent marketing company.

Crinos Industria SpA was a private company founded in 1944 and became one of Italy's leading independent pharmaceutical companies.

In 1956, research began with substances derived from mammalian organs for treating coagulation and fibrinolytic disorders. The first of these was a mixture of glycosaminoglycans developed for its potential anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity.

At the beginning of 1960, company research efforts were focused on developing compounds to correct coagulation and thrombotic disorders but having greater safety than current treatments by reducing haemorrhagic potential. This research yielded a novel fibrinolytic/antithrombotic compound, initially named fraction P due to its phosphate rich content. It was later discovered that this compound was in fact a polydeoxyribonucleotide, i.e. a low molecular weight single stranded DNA. This agent has advantages over other antithrombotic drugs because it possesses negligible systemic anticoagulant properties.

Fraction P is now known as defibrotide. Defibrotide was marketed in Italy in injectable form in 1986 and in oral form in 1992