Recherche et Industrie Thérapeutiques
Founded | 1945Genval, Belgium | in
---|---|
Founder | Dr Pieter De Somer |
Fate | Merged with Glaxo and SmithKline to form GlaxoSmithKline |
Key people | Roger Connor, CEO |
Recherche et Industrie Thérapeutiques (R.I.T.) was founded in Genval, Belgium, as a penicillin factory in 1945 by Dr Pieter De Somer, who later became the founder of the Rega Institute for Medical Research and rector of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Leuven, Belgium). The industrialist Jean Lannoye provided the funding for the company. The company started its vaccine research and production in the 1950s. The present CEO of the company is Roger Connor.
In 1968 the company was acquired by Smith, Kline & French and the name was changed in SmithKline-RIT. In 1989 it became SmithKline Beecham Biologicals, and since 2000 GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals.
History[]
- 1945: Creation under the name of R.I.T. in Genval
- 1956: Beginning of the activity of production of vaccines (polio vaccine)
- 1958: Acquisition of the site in Rixensart
- 1968: R.I.T. becomes a subsidiary company of SmithKline Corp.
- 1989: Merger between SmithKline and Beecham
- 1992: Acquisition of SSW-Dresden (Germany)
- 1995: Extension of the site of Rixensart towards two new sites in Belgium:
- 1995: Agreement on a joint-venture in China
- 1997: Agreement on a joint-venture in Russia
- 1998: Collaboration agreement with Egypt
- 1999: Agreement on a partnership with Brazil
- 2000: Merger between GlaxoWellcome and SmithKlineBeecham to form GlaxoSmithKline[1]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Petersen, Andrew Ross Sorkin With Melody (17 January 2000). "Glaxo and SmithKline Agree To Form Largest Drugmaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (history)
External links[]
Categories:
- Pharmaceutical companies of Belgium
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Pharmaceutical companies established in 1945
- 1945 establishments in Belgium
- Rixensart
- Companies based in Walloon Brabant
- Medical company stubs