What Istituto Gentili does

Istituto Gentili S.r.l. is an Italian specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 1917, headquartered in Milan, and operating as a subsidiary under the direction and coordination of Mediolanum Farmaceutici Spa. The company markets branded pharmaceutical products in oncology, oncohematology, pain management, rare diseases, and supportive care, targeting Italian healthcare professionals and through international distribution partnerships. Its portfolio spans aromatase inhibitors (Axelta/exemestane, Raoloz/anastrozole, Zoltron/letrozole) for hormone-sensitive breast cancer, liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet) for HER2-/triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, lapatinib (HER2+ breast cancer under the Novartis 2017 agreement), Rydapt (midostaurin) for AML and systemic mastocytosis, Sandostatina LAR for neuroendocrine tumors and acromegaly, fentanyl-based products (Effentora, Instanyl DoseGuard, Matrifen) for cancer-related pain, and supportive care agents (Lonquex/lipegfilgrastim, Setofilm/ondansetron, Gestroltex/megestrol acetate, Loramyc/miconazole).

The company's business model is partnership-led distribution and co-promotion. Revenue is generated through branded pharmaceutical sales, with a primary go-to-market through field sales engagement of oncologists, hematologists, and other specialists in Italy, supplemented by channel partnerships with multinational pharma companies (Novartis, Teva Italia OncoCare, CStone Pharmaceuticals, Therabel). Strategic in-licensing and acquisitions (e.g., Therabel Gienne Pharma in 2017) are used to expand the specialty product portfolio without disclosed in-house drug discovery. Under the 2025 CStone partnership, the company participates in the global commercial footprint of sugemalimab, spanning over 60 countries.

Istituto Gentili is privately held as a single-member company (Società con socio unico) with €20,000 share capital, reports a headcount of 51-100, and does not publicly disclose revenue. Corporate responsibility initiatives (ANT Foundation, De Marchi Onlus Foundation) and regulatory compliance with AIFA support its positioning as a long-tenured oncology specialist in the Italian market.

Name

Istituto Gentili

Legal name

Istituto Gentili S.r.l.

Website

https://istitutogentili.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Istituto Gentili is a Milan-based Italian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oncology, oncohematology, pain management, rare diseases, and supportive care therapeutics, distributing branded products primarily in Italy through field sales and multinational pharma partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAC), Specialty Care Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAB), Rare Oncology & Hematologic Malignancy Therapies (HLAIAIAC), Pain Management & Anesthesiology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAN), Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health) (HLAIAAAJ)

Keywords

• Oncology pharmaceuticals
• Cancer therapeutics
• Supportive care medications
• Pain management drugs
• Rare disease treatments

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Istituto Gentili generates revenue through the sale of branded pharmaceutical products including oncology drugs, supportive care medications, pain management therapies, and treatments for rare diseases. The company develops and commercializes drugs through partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Istituto Gentili develops, markets and distributes a specialty pharmaceutical product portfolio centered on oncology, oncohematology, pain management, rare diseases, and supportive care in Italy. The company commercializes both proprietary products and in-licensed therapies from international partners, serving hospital-based prescribers across Italy. Its portfolio covers breast cancer treatments, liposomal chemotherapy, antiemetics, growth factors for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, analgesics for cancer-related pain, and therapies for rare hematologic conditions.

Product overview

Istituto Gentili is an Italian pharmaceutical company focused on oncology and oncohematology. The company's product portfolio centers on a range of pharmaceutical products spanning multiple therapeutic areas including breast cancer treatment (aromatase inhibitors such as Axelta/exemestane, Raoloz/anastrozole, and Zoltron/letrozole; HER2+ treatments like lapatinib; and liposomal doxorubicin Myocet for HER2- forms), oncohematology (Rydapt/midostaurin for acute myeloid leukemia and systemic mastocytosis), pain management (fentanyl-based products Effentora, Instanyl DoseGuard, and Matrifen; Eumat/ketorolac), supportive care therapies (Lonquex/lipegfilgrastim for neutropenia, Setofilm/ondansetron for CINV, Gestroltex/megestrol acetate for cachexia, Loramyc/miconazole for oral candidiasis), and neuroendocrine disorders (Sandostatina LAR/octreotide for NETs and acromegaly). The portfolio reflects commitment to both cancer treatment and patient quality of life through supportive therapies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Axelta (exemestane) Aromatase inhibitor indicated for adjuvant and metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
• Raoloz (anastrozole) Non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor used in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
• Zoltron (letrozole) Aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of hormone-responsive breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
• Myocet (liposomal doxorubicin) Liposomal doxorubicin formulation indicated in combination with cyclophosphamide for first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
• Rydapt (midostaurin) Multi-kinase inhibitor indicated for newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and for systemic mastocytosis, including aggressive systemic mastocytosis and mast cell leukemia.
• Lonquex (lipegfilgrastim) Long-acting pegylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for reduction of the duration of neutropenia and incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy.
• Setofilm (ondansetron) Oral soluble film formulation of ondansetron for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and post-operative nausea and vomiting.
• Gestroltex (megestrol acetate) Megestrol acetate oral suspension for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia, or significant weight loss in patients with cancer or HIV/AIDS.
• Loramyc (miconazole) Mucoadhesive buccal tablet of miconazole for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in immunocompromised patients.
• Effentora (fentanyl citrate) Buccal tablet formulation of fentanyl citrate for the management of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant adult cancer patients.
• Matrifen (fentanyl transdermal) Transdermal fentanyl patch for the management of severe chronic pain requiring continuous opioid analgesia in opioid-tolerant patients.
• Instanyl DoseGuard (fentanyl nasal spray) Intranasal fentanyl spray with dose-counting device for rapid relief of breakthrough cancer pain in opioid-tolerant adults.
• Eumat (ketorolac tromethamine) Injectable ketorolac tromethamine, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for short-term management of moderate to severe acute pain.
• Sandostatina LAR (octreotide acetate) Long-acting repeatable intramuscular formulation of octreotide acetate for treatment of acromegaly and symptom control in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).
• Ozased (midazolam) Oral midazolam formulation for sedation in pediatric and adult patients for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
• GenTTs L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) dietary supplement formulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sugemalimab now spans over 60 countries through strategic partnerships
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CStone PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with CStone Pharmaceuticals for sugemalimab now spanning over 60 countries through strategic partnerships including those with SteinCares and Gentili, enabling global commercial footprint expansion for oncology products.
• Teva Italia Srl OncoCarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Partnership with Teva Italia Srl OncoCare (2018) allowing Istituto Gentili to expand in the oncological area by adding a drug for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (liposomal doxorubicin), and two supportive therapies for neutropenia (lipegfilgrastim) and intense episodic pain (fentanyl citrate).
• Novartis Farma S.p.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Cooperation agreement with Novartis Farma S.p.A. (2017) for the marketing and distribution in Italy of lapatinib, a molecule indicated for the treatment of a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer characterized by high levels of the HER2 receptor.
• Therabel Gienne PharmacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Acquisition of Therabel Gienne Pharma, the Italian branch of Dutch company Therabel (2017), adding a product for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis (topical miconazole), a condition very frequent in immunodepressed patients following chemotherapy regimens.
• AIFA (Italian Medicines Agency)coreOthersRegulatory partnership with AIFA for pharmacovigilance, adverse event reporting, and compliance with Italian pharmaceutical regulations.
• G. e D. De Marchi Onlus FoundationminorOthersSupport for the De Marchi Onlus Foundation committed to assisting children affected by serious chronic diseases under treatment at the De Marchi Children's Clinic in Milan.
• ANT Onlus FoundationminorOthersSustains the ANT Onlus Foundation, the largest non-profit organization in Italy providing free oncological home care services. Istituto Gentili supports cancer prevention projects including early melanoma diagnosis, thyroid, gynecology, and breast cancer screening.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Helsinn Group: Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company focused on cancer supportive care and pain management. Helsinn's CINV, neutropenia, and cancer pain portfolio overlaps directly with Gentili's Setofilm (ondansetron), Lonquex (lipegfilgrastim), and fentanyl franchises.
• Molteni Farmaceutici: Italian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on pain management, oncology support, and addiction therapy. Comparable to Gentili in its private status, Italian market emphasis, and concentration on supportive care and pain franchises.
• Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A. Private Italian biopharmaceutical company active in specialty care, oncology, and rare diseases with a partnership-driven model similar to Gentili's. Comparable on therapeutic focus and on leveraging co-development and licensing deals with multinational pharma.
• Italfarmaco S.p.A. Private Italian pharmaceutical company focused on specialty care, women's health, oncology support, and rare diseases. Operates at a similar mid-sized scale to Gentili, distributing branded specialty products through specialist channels in Italy and select international markets.
• Recordati S.p.A. Italian specialty pharmaceutical company with a portfolio spanning oncology, rare diseases, and specialty care. Both are mid-sized Italian pharma firms selling branded specialty products through partnerships and direct sales to specialists — making it the closest direct comparability for Istituto Gentili in geography, scale, and therapeutic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Vifor Pharma: European specialty pharmaceutical company with hospital and oncology-adjacent franchises, now part of CSL. Comparable to Gentili on European specialty pharma positioning and hospital-channel distribution.
• Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. Private Italian multinational pharmaceutical company operating in specialty care, rare diseases, and hospital products. Overlaps with Gentili in the Italian specialty/hospital channel and is comparable in private ownership and Italian origin.
• Menarini Group: Large Italian pharmaceutical group with a broad oncology and specialty care portfolio across multiple geographies. Functions as a larger incumbent that competes with Gentili for hospital and specialist accounts in Italy and Europe, while also serving as a potential partner.
• Angelini Pharma: Private Italian pharmaceutical group with interests in specialty care, oncology, and consumer health. Competes with Gentili in Italian hospital/specialty channels while operating at meaningfully larger scale.

Emerging players

• Specialised Therapeutics (STB): Specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oncology and supportive care, operating across multiple geographies through licensing partnerships. Comparable to Gentili in its partnership-led model for niche oncology and supportive care assets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Istituto Gentili