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Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) are protein messengers that play a vital role in nerve cell health and function (

began in the 1950s with the landmark discovery of 

NGF by the Italian neurobiologist, Professor Rita Levi-Montalcini, and her colleague Dr. Stanley Cohen. For this discovery, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986 (

Dompé played a key role in this advancement by successfully engineering and manufacturing the first recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) after years of dedicated research.

This breakthrough fueled further research focused on the potential of neurotrophins to treat a wide range of conditions. Scientists worldwide are now working to expand the potential of neurotrophins in areas of ophthalmology, and the Central Nervous System (

This is the focus of the upcoming conference, "

" organized by Nature and sponsored by Dompé farmaceutici.

Stay tuned and follow us to remain updated on the latest advancements.

To learn more about the science behind Dompé's recombinant human Nerve Growth Factor, visit our 

1. Eric J Huang, Louis F Reichardt Neurotrophins: Roles in Neuronal Development and Function Annu Rev Neurosci. 2001 ; 24: 677–736. doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.24.1.677

2. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1986

3. Luigi Aloe, Maria Luisa Rocco, Bijorn Omar Balzamino, Alessandra Micera Nerve Growth Factor: A Focus on Neuroscience and Therapy Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015 May; 13(3): 294–303. Published online 2015 May. doi: 10.2174/1570159X13666150403231920

*The images on this page are for illustrative purposes only. 

Translational research on neurotrophins from corneal disease to the central nervous system

Translational Research on Neurotrophins                            Ocular Disease and Central Nervous System

Why early detection of neurotrophic keratitis is crucial

Understanding disease and diagnosis factors

Neurotrophic keratitis is considered a rare disease (1), but it is likely underdiagnosed as there is no routine testing for it (2). Given risk factors include common procedures and behaviors such as 

laser eye surgery and contact lens wear or over wear (3), the prevalence of NK could be greater than currently understood.

This disease of the corneal epithelium (the cornea's outermost layer) occurs when the sensory nerves to the cornea are damaged and stop functioning as they should. Breakdown of the corneal epithelium happens over time due to a loss or abnormality in the sensory nerves which provide trophic support to the cornea and elicit protective blink/tear reflexes in response to touch, pain and temperature (4). If, for example, a particle of dust is blown into a healthy eye, the sensory nerves detect it and elicit a blink reflex as well as create tears to protect the surface of the eye. As sensory innervation is impaired, the cornea becomes vulnerable to injury and when it does sustain an injury, it heals itself slower (5).

Potential outcomes can be devastating, including ulcers, perforation, infection, scarring, and ultimately, sight loss (2). Importantly, it can easily go undetected precisely because the damage to corneal nerve endings means people may not experience symptoms and may delay seeking care.

Given neurotrophic keratitis is a degenerative disease, it progresses from mild to moderate to severe – and detecting it as early as possible is crucial. Patients with Stage 1 NK may experience blurred vision, red eyes and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light) (6).

Even mild neurotrophic keratitis can lead to changes in vision (7); if left undiagnosed or identified late, the disease can progress quickly.

Once in the moderate to severe stages, risks include profound vision loss, corneal scarring and perforation. The surface of the eye develops epithelial defect or ulcers and these open wounds are at risk for infection. In later stages, the inner layer can also break down leading to stromal ‘melting’. This can ultimately result in an opening to the inside of the eye, and potentially the loss of the eye (8).

Various factors can lead to neurotrophic keratitis, including conditions like herpetic infections, diabetes and multiple sclerosis or a deficiency in vitamin A (9). The chronic use of topical eye medications, such as IOP-lowering eye drops (10) for glaucoma and certain topical NSAIDS are a known cause due to preservative toxicity that can cause the corneal nerve damage. Ocular surgery, such as laser vision correction procedures or cataract or glaucoma surgery, raises risk (11). Chemical and physical burns can cause neurotrophic keratitis and although less common, some genetic disorders (Riley-Day syndrome (12), Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome (13), and Mobius syndrome

, familial corneal hypoesthesia (15) are associated as well. Risk also increases with age (18).

If there is a suspicion of neurotrophic keratitis based on assessment of medical history and evaluation of corneal staining, a corneal sensitivity test must be performed. Testing corneal sensitivity can reveal decreased corneal nerve function and when done with additional tests, can confirm the diagnosis (2). Additionally, if a patient is being treated for dry eye disease and not seeing an improvement, evaluation of their medical, ocular, and medication history may reveal a raised risk of neurotrophic keratitis which has so far gone undiagnosed

(17). Corneal sensitivity testing takes seconds, but can allow early interventions.

Once neurotrophic keratitis is diagnosed, careful monitoring of patients is required, as disease progression can be asymptomatic (2)

Like many other diseases, early detection is fundamental to patients affected by Neurotrophic keratitis.

Rare DIsease Day 2024

INVESTING IN TRAINING: “I’ve gained valuable insights to help my team meet key timelines for clinical trials”

Rare Disease Day 2024

Investire nella formazione " Ho acquisito preziose informazioni  per aiutare il mio team a rispettare le scadenze fondamentali per gli studi clinici"

 novel drugs, but there is an ongoing battle that requires increasing attention. It is the one on  rare diseases, and today we celebrate the annual Rare Disease Day to remind us of its importance.

A pathology is considered rare when it affects 5 people per 10,000 or fewer, but it is estimated that 

 worldwide are affected by rare diseases. Over 

 characterized by a wide diversity of symptoms and disorders not only test patients but also their families and caregivers. 

Symptoms, sometimes seemingly common, can conceal underlying rare diseases, leading to misdiagnoses and treatment delays. These diseases are mostly disabling, impacting patients' quality of life due to the chronic, progressive, degenerative, and often dangerous aspects of the disease. The fact that effective cures often do not exist adds to the high level of pain and suffering endured by patients and their families.

The long-term goal of the Rare Disease Day campaign is to ensure equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, healthcare, social support, and social opportunities for people affected by a rare disease.

Rare Disease Day is an excellent example of ongoing progress, with events held worldwide every year. Since 2008, events have begun taking place in 18 countries; since then, Rare Disease Day has been observed annually, with activities held in over 100 countries.

Together, we can make difference. But how?

Dompé has chosen to raise awareness about these lesser-known diseases by launching a message of support and awareness.

We have transformed our corporate spaces, hosting a photographic event that featured Dompé employees.

We decided to give voice to words by organizing an internal photographic campaign. Phrases like "Rare but not invisible," "Every story counts," and "Love is not rare" illuminated the faces of our employees, conveying a message of unity and solidarity. Each projected word represented a tangible commitment to support those living with rare diseases and to promote research and access to treatment. Employees demonstrated their commitment to the rare disease cause, offering smiling faces and supportive gestures.

Dompé's commitment extends beyond Rare Disease Day, continuing throughout the year in pursuing the mission of improving people's lives through innovation and scientific research.

A look into our commitment to develop our researchers' skills to better meet patient's needs

a group of US and Italian employees from the Dompé R&D Clinical operation team headed to Italy to participate in a project management course, and they returned brimming with new insights and innovative approaches. 

Preregistration Scientific Liaison Director, put it, “T

his experience has equipped the team and myself with the tools necessary for the evolution of the research and development team.”

 the training also provided an important opportunity

relations. “I was able to connect directly with the team, including project managers, project directors, and clinical development colleagues”, she reflected. “I not only strengthened my knowledge of project management concepts, I was also able to gain additional perspective from the other members.”

The course was far-reaching and designed specifically to meet the needs of Dompé employees, in line with company’s commitment to invest in developing researchers' skills to better meet patient's needs.

Topics ranged from project set-up and careful analysis to risk assessment. Crucial considerations for scientists around the impact of research was a key aspect, as was advice for comprehensively planning essential milestones and target dates in an informed way, where their feasibility was carefully – and continually – analyzed.

For Butler, good training requires “clear, concise information with strong theoretical backing.” And this 

met her expectations “to understand why we do things the way we do them is essential – being able to walk away from training with the knowledge, tools, and skills to apply to our job immediately”, she said, adding that now she’s back in her day-to-day role, she notes how the training has “positively impacted our daily work.”

Transparent communication with stakeholders, and the willingness – and techniques needed – to explore potential outcomes via what-if scenarios was covered, to help

employees better predict both positive and potentially negative effects on project objectives. Again, this was appreciated by Butler: “I think it is essential as a team to have this formal education that supports our daily work and connects us to explore how to work better and support each other based on real-life experiences”, she said.

Team members were also provided with tools and techniques to achieve seamless planning; exploring how to make accurate and achievable performance indicators and targets early in projects

will be taking all of this on board with her team:

“We will adopt new tools for managing risk assessments, such as evaluating risks as early as the protocol-writing stage. Moreover, I will prioritize cross-functional communication among all stakeholders by implementing cohesive team plans. I've also gained valuable insights into practical activities and resource planning to achieve milestones and meet expected timelines for our clinical trials,” she said.

There was also, of course, special focus on ensuring human subject protection and the reliability of trial results, pre-empting and addressing challenges and emphasis on keeping everyone updated and informed, to proactively addressing any deviations or challenges that may crop up. This matters to Dompé employees: “Our motivation stems from the awareness that individuals, patients and loved ones, suffer from various diseases,” says 

. “As a team, through clinical trials, we have the opportunity to bridge the gap between science and the potential for new therapeutics. This opportunity to transform lives is profoundly rewarding.”

There was also space for a more relaxed approach within the course: “The recreational team-building activities allowed for camaraderie amongst the team and allowed us to have fun, making this experience extra special,” says Butler.

 see continuous training as a must, and appreciate it’s something that Dompé prioritizes. “In addition to ever-changing regulations and guidance on a global scale, there are new medications, treatments, ways of working better, and new discoveries of technology to treat patients,” says Butler. “Every opportunity to test and observe is a chance to understand better how a disease works and how we can improve not only on the current treatment of patients but also for future patients.”

Those who attended the course return to their offices, labs  – and teams – with renewed focus. As a science-driven company working tirelessly to address patients’ medical needs, training will always be part of Dompé’s offering, because we know that it translates to better results for everybody.

Investing in training: “I’ve gained valuable insights to help my team meet key timelines for clinical trials”

“Rita Levi Montalcini” scholars: supporting young pioneers in  neuroscience

The future generation of Life Sciences

From the impact of environmental pollutants on neurodevelopment to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases and to precision and personalized medicine or the root causes of schizophrenic hallucinations, these are just some of the topics  DompéFoundation fellows are working on. 

As today’s scientific progress often arises from interdisciplinary and innovative studies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and data science, aspiring STEM leaders need a training journey embracing different disciplines and technologies.

That’s why our scholarships and fellowships focus on degrees that embody this forward-looking approach. In the 2023-24 Academic year, the Foundation will support up to 28 students from 8 institutions in Italy and 16 Master’s/Ph.D. students or post-doc researchers in neuroscience in the US in diverse fields.

 run by Humanitas University and Milan’s Politecnico to the

 Master’s degree in Molecular and Medical Biotechnology at the University of Verona

 are all the programs covered by our scholarships.

To understand more about how this new generation of budding scientists dreams of changing the world, explore Eleonora, Philippo, and Michele’s work and personal journey 

The Dompé Foundation kicks off the 2023/2024 program with 44 scholarship in US and Italy 

The Dompé Foundation is offering 44 scholarships to the most promising candidates enrolled in top-tier STEM degrees for the academic year 2023/2024 in US and Italian Universities.

This new round of scholarships is aimed at 28 students from eight   Italian institutions (University of Milan, Bocconi University, Politecnico di Milano, Humanitas University, University of Pavia, University of Verona, University of Bari Aldo Moro, and the University of Trento), and to 16 students admitted to a Master’s, PhD or post-doc programs in neuroscience/neurobiology across the US.

From a 6-year degree course in Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, to a Master’s degree in Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, and to a PhD in Neurobiology, the Foundation’s scholarships cover all levels and areas of STEM graduate education. All the programs sponsored by the Foundation share a commitment to multidisciplinary learning, technological education, and the opportunity to access an international network. 

Three are the main novelties in the 2023/2024 scholarships program: the doubling of the budget for the “Rita Levi Montalcini” scholarships for the US, the addition of the University of Trento to the network of Italian universities, and the launch of two tuition waivers for two female students attending the Master’s in Business of Events at Bocconi, a funding opportunity in memory of the late sportsman and Dompé farmaceutici founder, Franco Dompé. Curious to learn more? Explore all active calls for applications 

Discover more about the Dompé Foundation: here's the new video

Scopri di più sulla Fondazione Dompé: ecco il nuovo video

"Our scholarship program supports students at all levels of study and across a variety of subjects. By funding highly innovative degrees, our Foundation also strives to contribute to the development of new professional profiles, especially within the life sciences" 

Dompé Pharmaceuticals’ Environmental Commitment

The company cannot exist outside of its territory. For this reason, it must now strive to protect the habitat in which us humans live, by reducing polluting emissions, recycling materials used, and optimizing energy consumption. Dompé has a strong connection to the Abruzzo region, where 30 years ago it opened its production hub which supplies all its markets. Thus, environmental sustainability has always gone hand in hand with human health in its development strategies.

At the end of 2022, the company launched a new environmental investment plan of over three million euros. By the end of 2023, at the production plant in Via Campo di Pile, L'Aquila, a state-of-the-art trigeneration plant will be operational. With this upgrade, 70% of the energy needed for the 170,000 square meter site will be locally produced from sustainable sources. Apart from offices, the plant houses research and development laboratories and facilities where over 1,500 tons of granules and over 2 million liters of drops and syrups are produced each year, totaling 700 million doses annually, including over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, and medical devices.

"The system," explains Chief Industrial Officer Stefano Arena, "will allow us, with a single process, to produce electricity, hot water, and steam, and supply the temperature and humidity control systems required in a biopharmaceutical company."

One of the distinctive features of the new plant is its Hydrogen Ready status. "Currently, using methane, which is already considered the cleanest fuel among fossil energy sources, makes this trigeneration plant sustainable. When natural gas suppliers will be able to provide hydrogen through their networks, we’ll be able to easily switch to this even more environmentally friendly source. All the new boilers we are installing have Hydrogen Ready burners."

Making a trigeneration plant even more ecologically sustainable is the energy autonomy it provides to a company. "We aim," says Arena, "to achieve at least 70% energy autonomy. This will not only save on energy costs (which have been a major concern for everyone in the last two years), but also help reduce our carbon footprint. "Thanks to the trigeneration plant, Dompé aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4.5%”, which is equivalent to 400 tons of CO2.

"In addition to this," Arena concludes, "in the past years, and currently, we have undertaken many other small and large initiatives for environmental sustainability. For example, we have been able to purify all wastewater from processes and are planning to use a large part of this water for irrigation of surrounding lands. Regarding electricity, we are interested in understanding how we can participate in the process that will lead to the birth of renewable energy communities in the coming years. More as consumers - since the pharmaceutical industry is energy-intensive - than as producers."

Dompé Pharmaceuticals’ Environmental Commitment 

MBTI: a Leadership That Thrives in Diversity

Esplorando il potere della leadership: il progetto MBTI 

In the world of leadership, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each person's unique personality traits and preferences play a significant role in shaping their behavior, communication style, and decision-making process.

To help our employees delve deeper into their inner selves and uncover their unique combination of personality preferences, Dompé has been using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment sessions in our company. The MBTI is a self-reflective questionnaire that reveals various psychological preferences in individuals' perception of the world and approach to decision-making. Over the years, the MBTI has gained traction in the field of leadership as well, especially relational leadership.

As part of our Leadership Development program, we organized a series of facilitated sessions for our people managers focused on MBTI and Relational Leadership. More than 50 members of our people managers from cross-functional teams in Europe were engaged in different exercises to gain a deeper understanding of how personality traits influence their leadership style and how they can adapt it to unlock the full potential of their teams. All the sessions were guided by a facilitator who was skilled in guiding participants through self-discovery.

With a clear vision in mind, the facilitator provided our people managers with valuable insights and wisdom, inviting them to reflect on the multifaceted challenges they encounter as leaders. One thought-provoking exercise involved the exploration of each participant's childhood hero. Each person described their chosen hero, whether it was a fictional character, historical figure, or someone close to their hearts. In delving into the qualities and virtues that made these heroes remarkable, the participants discovered profound connections to their own values and beliefs and understood how the values represented in their chosen heroes shaped their leadership styles.

In a practical turn, role playing was employed to involve the teams in an engaging scenario ranging from mediating conflicts to negotiating with others from different perspectives. The participants were encouraged to step into the shoes of other people, learning to view situations from multiple angles and understanding the nuances of each person's motivations and concerns. The role plays became a laboratory for experimenting with different approaches to negotiation skills, giving participants the opportunity to refine their communication skills as well.

Throughout the workshop, it became evident that effective people leadership goes beyond individual brilliance. It thrives in an environment where people are able to understand and appreciate their own personality preferences, as well as those of others. By understanding how their personality traits influence their behavior, leaders can become more self-aware and effective in their interactions with others.

The sessions were a valuable learning experience for all participants, and they left with a deeper understanding of how their personality traits influence their leadership style. They also gained valuable insights into how they can adapt their leadership style to unlock the full potential of their teams.

"Equine Guided Learning”: Un viaggio alla scoperta delle nostre capacità manageriali

Equine Guided Learning:  A journey of self-discovery to empower managers with leadership skills

At Dompé we foster a culture of learning, paving the way for people’s lifelong growth. That is why we invest in the development of leadership, with new approaches. 

For example, at Angera woods village, near Lake Maggiore, some managers engaged in a new self-awareness and personal growth initiative: Equine Guided Learning. Within a natural space, participants are guided to discover the strength of their own intentions and the coherence between emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Horses attune themselves to people and read the coherence between their emotions, reflecting with specific responses what they perceive. The trainers, capable of decoding these behaviors, "translate" them into feedback for the participants: guiding them, overcoming their resistance, and creating spaces for learning and reflection without excessively structured mediations.

It's a learning experience that emphasizes the dimension of presence, connection, and focus while eliminating the use of words and explanations from a "manual."

“It was a unique training opportunity that highlighted the importance of non-verbal communication and the coherence between gestures and intentions” said Giada Licari, Head of Marketing Director - Primary & Specialty Care.  The new learning format is aimed to expand their perspectives on authentic leadership and improve their managerial skills, including guiding, providing constructive feedback, expressing assertiveness and clarifying personal intentions before taking action.

"Engaging with the horses allowed me to recognize the importance of living in the present moment and fostering genuine connections with others. With their remarkable ability to stay in the now, the horses taught me the significance of such coherence, as they don't dwell on the past or worry about the future” said Elisa Spitti, Commercial Excellence & Solutions Associate Director.

Sometimes, the most important lessons come from unexpected teachers. In our case, the honest and real-time feedback and the wisdom imparted by equine partners was invaluable for the participants to deepen their self-awareness, nurturing empathy, and cultivating a stronger sense of trust within their teams.

Equine Guided Learning:  a journey of self-discovery to empower managers with leadership skills

The Importance of Rare Diseases: Rarity Should Not Be Ignored

L'importanza delle malattie rare: la rarità non deve essere ignorata

In Italy, the new National Plan for Rare Diseases 2023-2026 has just allocated €50 million for the two-year period of 2023-2024. The aim, according to Undersecretary of Health Marcello Gemmato, is to "address the disparities and inequalities in care and assistance, both among regions and within regions" for the approximately two million Italians affected by these conditions.

This progress is an important signal, although much remains to be done. For example, implementing the measures of the comprehensive law on rare diseases (Law 175/2021), approved two years ago and still not issued, as recently highlighted by the representatives of Uniamo, the Italian Federation of Rare Diseases. These measures include support for rare disease research and the development of orphan drugs, as well as a solidarity fund to support the care and assistance of people affected by rare diseases.

Dompé began investing in this field over a decade ago, not only through research but also through awareness-raising initiatives. An example is the video 

 produced in collaboration with Uniamo, to effectively give a voice to rare disease patients. The protagonist of the video is Tommaso Galluppi, who was 22 years old at the time and affected by a rare metabolic disorder called hyperphenylalaninemia. The objective of "The rarest ones" is to encourage reflection and sharing as a means to promote a conscious understanding that a rare disease is not a minor illness, and all patients deserve equal attention.

Why rare should not mean ignored

We Embrace: discover our commitment to science in the interest of patients 

We Embrace the challenge in science: discover our commitment in the interest of patients 

Following Dompé’s new narrative and payoff, 

, our new corporate video showcases our company’s vision and commitment to science. 

Produced by Armando Testa, one of the leading Italian agencies globally, the 

 video translated the new Dompé narrative developed with the support of Edelman to recall how, in more than 130 years and starting from a small pharmacy in Milan, Dompé built a global company that continues to improve people's lives. Five years ago, Dompé’s brought to the US its first biotech therapy, based on the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the Nerve Growth Factor by Dr. Rita Levi Montalcini and Stanley Cohen. Today, this is the

 for a rare and orphan ophthalmologic disease and is distributed globally.

We want to express our thanks to Armando Testa for supporting us in this endeavor. Their engagement and expertise have played a crucial role in bringing our vision to life through the highest quality and creativity.

Dompé per i farmacisti: nasce il progetto Numbers ideato da I-Farma

L'Aquila: an increasingly green and biotech production hub

L'Aquila: 30 anni dopo

“L’Aquila’s plant is my family's biggest investment” says Sergio Dompé, Executive President of Dompé farmaceutici. It was July 21st, 1993 when the facility in Via Campo di Pile opened its doors for its inauguration hosting, among others, Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro and Nobel for Medicine Rita Levi Montalcini. “30 years have gone by and I want to reiterate my gratitude to the people who day contribute in making this facility better and more competitive - continues Dompé - we owe it the dedication of our workers if this company has developed in what today is perceived as one of the most innovative facilities in Europe and in the world”.

Originally focused on the production of Primary Care drugs, the hub evolved to match the demands of the market and expanding its biotech area.

Currently, the plant houses two separate production areas: one dedicated to the production, control, and distribution of traditional drugs (Primary & Specialty care), and another dedicated to the development, production, control, and distribution of recombinant proteins, including NGF, the active ingredient at the base of the FDA approved product for the USA market, which Dompé entered in 2017.

The 1.830.000 square feet of the plant host the manufacturing of 700 million doses annually, along with over 1,500 tons of granules, 925 thousand gallons of oral liquids, resulting in a total of 46 million packages distributed in over 23 countries worldwide. 

In 2023 the site counts over 300 employees, of whom 40% are women and 48% are graduates.

“The respect for the environment and the territory is at the core of our values - emphasizes Chief Industrial Officer Stefano Arena - Today the company is investing in the reduction of its environmental impact by improving existing systems and installing new high-performance technologies to reduce energy consumption. In 2023, the installation of a state-of-the-art trigeneration plant will be completed, capable of self-generating 70% of the site's energy needs and reducing CO2 emissions."

L’Aquila: an increasingly green and biotech production hub

Gary Pisano, The Future of the Business of Bioscience

On June 20, at the Public Library in Washington DC, Dompé farmaceutici organized a roundtable discussion titled "

". The conversation drew inspiration from the innovative and collaborative spirit embodied by one of Italy's greatest historical figures, Leonardo da Vinci as the

of the Italian genius was inaugurated on the same day at the Library. The event stimulated a conversation on the vital collaboration between industry and academia, and its role in propelling forward scientific research.

The roundtable was introduced by a keynote from Gary Pisano,  Associate Dean of Harvard Business School and author of "

Creative Construction: The DNA of Constructive Innovation

Pisano discussed three key themes that will shape the future of the bioscience business. 

Firstly, there was the ongoing convergence between the realms of "science" and "business."

In the past, science primarily operated within the confines of academia, guided by principles of openness, objectivity, and collective knowledge ownership. On the other hand, business operated in the private sector, driven by profit-seeking motives and competitive market dynamics. However, over time, these boundaries gradually eroded, and the implications of this convergence were delved into. Pisano highlighted how academic institutions fostered companies, possessed their own venture capital funds, and collaborated extensively with corporations. Simultaneously, companies became active participants in the scientific world, publishing in scientific journals, presenting at academic conferences, sponsoring basic research, and attracting highly educated professionals who were previously inclined towards academic careers.

The second theme he explored was the rise of AI as a pivotal tool in scientific research and pharmaceutical development. They examined how AI reshaped the pharmaceutical industry and proposed that its utilization ultimately provided substantial scalability advantages in the realm of discovery research. This transformation profoundly impacted the industry's structure, potentially leading to non-traditional pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, he addressed the implications for small to medium-sized pharmaceutical companies that historically played a vital role in discovering and developing new therapeutics. He proposed that these companies could thrive by engaging in collaborative networks and achieving scalability at the ecosystem level rather than solely at the company level.

Pisano highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the fact that trust in science and medicine could not be taken for granted. They discussed the challenges expected to intensify with the advent of new scientific advancements and technologies, such as artificial intelligence. While these scientific breakthroughs held incredible potential for improving health outcomes, they emphasized that their impact could be significantly diminished if societies lost trust in the institutions, including the companies, responsible for bringing these advancements to life.

Embracing the Challenge in Science: From Intuition to the Future of Innovation

Inspired by the innovative and collaborative nature of one of Italy’s and history’s most brilliant minds, Leonardo da Vinci, the Dompé farmaceutici hosted roundtable, 

 sparked an important conversation about the critical partnership between industry and academia in driving science forward.  The roundtable, held in Washington D.C., brought together perspectives from leading researchers and business leaders including (list).  The roundtable event also introduced the most recent recipients of the Dompe Foundation’s Rita Levi Montalcini Fellowships. 

As stated by Maria Angela Zappia, Italy’s US Ambassador to the United States, “Science is important for diplomacy” and never is this more apparent than when seeking to overcome public health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Leonardo da Vinci’s approach to science was based on intense observation and detailed drawings and notes of what he learned through his primary tool of investigation – his eyes.  Today, da Vinci’s ability to make connections across the arts, science, humanities and technology is relevant to how innovation needs to be fostered today. 

Kicking off the roundtable, discussion, Gary Pisano, author of

Creative Construction, The Dna of Constructive innovation

 pointed out that there are three themes shaping the future of bioscience: the increasing convergence of science and business, the rapid emergence of AI as a tool for drug discovery and the importance of trust and partnership.  He further states that the companies most likely to thrive in the future will be bi-cultural -- able to function well in the world of science and the world of business.    

As science evolves, experts pointed out that future innovations will be the output of a new set of partners.  In addition to biologists, chemists, and the biopharmaceutical business community, engineers and technologists will play increasingly important roles.  From artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ExScalate, that hasten drug discovery, to data insights drawn from EMRs that may predict outcomes of treatments for distinct populations, data science is a critical component of the future of medicine.

 Big data, insurance company information, EMR, offer an opportunity to learn more about practice trends and clinical correlations that we may not have thought about. This next frontier including AI, leads to increased collaboration with engineers and data scientists who will perceive the outputs of information in different languages than a biologist. 

Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 

underscored the importance of using technology at the site of diagnosis to try and predict if an individual will develop severe disease. Business and scientific collaboration is essential to technologies such as miniaturizing assays so that data can be analyzed close to real time to individualize a patient's treatment. 

One of the things that a review of insights from EMRs has shown is the distinct differences between men and women not only in our hormones but in our immune systems. Sabra Klein notes that during COVID-19, men were consistently more likely to be in intensive care units or die from COVID-19 and 70% of long Covid patients are women.  We have seen data from ExScalate that has shown the interactions of the Spike Protein in the SARS Covid virus that has uncovered interactions with factors such as estrogen receptors.  Technology – both AI and data insights from ER – are connecting the dots in how viruses interact with nuclear receptors such as estrogen.  

In addition to the role of collaboration in his work, Dompé’s Marcello Allegretti notes that Leonardo da Vinci and the Nobel Prize winning Rita Levi Montalcini, acted on intuition. That intuition, when combined with technology, leads to the transformative innovation that allows us to use science to embrace challenges we don't even know exist." 

That is certainly the case with Rita Levi Montalcini and Stanley Cohen’s work in Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) which was discovered as a molecule to drive the growth of neurons and initially thought to be a treatment for diseases of the brain.  But, it took a partnership between research and industry, and a plant that could replicate the neurons in a way that could be scaled for research and development, to lead to its first application as a treatment for ophthalmic disease and further collaborations are paving the way for what will come next in NGF research.   

Mina Massaro Giordano points out that "Rita Levi Montalcini was an amazing female scientist who had to overcome many adversities on her road to discovering nerve growth factor. 50 years later, the marriage of industry and science have led to important discoveries that would not have been possible without the collaboration between industry and science."

Sergio Dompé closed the roundtable by pointing out that the genius of Leonardo da Vinci is that of establishing a model that makes it possible to compete and collaborate with others to innovate.  “Life is made of opportunities and if you look at innovation models today, 80% is coming from small companies working with universities and hospitals … Dompé relies on this interaction between scientists and industries and today are introducing the next generation of young people to work this way – the new recipients of the Rita Levi Montalcini fellowship who represent the future of collaborative innovation between scientists and industry.” 

Dompé is a partner of the first monographic exhibition in the USA dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus

"Imagining the Future. Leonardo Da Vinci, the Soul of Italian Genius" is an initiative launched by Confindustria to promote Made in Italy globally on the occasion of the inauguration of its new headquarters in Washington on June 20th.

 is the only life science company serving as a partner, along with 24 ORE Cultura, Dolce&Gabbana, Pirelli and Trenitalia, Intesa Sanpaolo, the main event partner, ITA Airways as the official carrier, and with the curation of the director of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Monsignor Alberto Rocca. The initiative emphasizes how Leonardo was an innovator in the fields of art, knowledge, science, and research, highlighting the "know-how" that still distinguishes Italian companies today. 

Dompé is also the first partner to launch a satellite event on June 20th titled "Embracing the Challenge in Science. Dompé's Research from Neurotrophins to AI Driven Drug Discovery." The event, opened by a keynote speech from economist Gary Pisano of Harvard Business School, will also feature a roundtable discussion with American and Italian researchers. Participation is open to the public both in-person and via streaming 

The Curiositas that drove Leonardo da Vinci to imagine applications and inventions ahead of his time and the technologies available to him served as inspiration for those who followed him in the centuries that followed. "It is by drawing inspiration from his tireless thirst for knowledge that we have decided to participate in Confindustria's project," emphasizes Sergio Dompé, Executive President of Dompé Pharmaceuticals. 

"For us, it is a matter of pride to be among the sponsors of this unique event. Together with representatives from luxury, automotive, and culture, we are proud to bring Italian life sciences to the USA. We Italians have many qualities and also many shortcomings. One of these shortcomings is that we don't know how to tell our story and how to properly represent the value of what we do. That's why we should tell our story through Leonardo, showcasing the wonderful companies that bring the Made in Italy brand to the world."

Scientific research and the courage to experiment, even at the risk of failure, have guided us for over a century in expanding our knowledge in the life sciences to improve people's lives.

The monographic exhibition, titled "Imagining the Future. Leonardo da Vinci: In The Mind Of An Italian Genius," will open its doors to the public on June 20th at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., a symbol of social cohesion that has become the nerve center of American institutions with its public vocation. On display for the first time in the US until August 20th will be 12 original Da Vinci drawings selected from the 1,119 sheets that make up the Codex Atlanticus.

These works, housed in Italy at the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, testify to Leonardo's intellectual life for over forty years, from 1478 to 1519. The 12 original panels will be accessible to the public for the first time in the United States, showcasing an Italian enterprise through a collection of visionary projects encompassing themes ranging from research, mechanics, engineering, and flight.

Computational chemists have long desired to correlate protein-ligand complex structures with their binding affinity, especially for designing drugs to combat devastating diseases. Accurately predicting on a computer the behavior of molecules has proven challenging but huge progress is being made especially with new computing power and the development of stronger AI capabilities.. Springer's recently published 

 opens a window on what can be, and has been done with these new tools right in the middle of the worst pandemic living humans have seen. The book would have not been possible without the support, encouragement, and feedback of so many team members, authors, and collaborators of the 

(coordinated by Dompé farmaceutici) and 

projects who worked to complete their tasks.

Edited by Silvano Colletti and Gabriella Bernardi, the book aims, for the first time, to gather available evidence on researches and use cases of artificial intelligence techniques and HPC resources aiming to accelerate the drug discovery and development process.  It aims to indicate avenues for future research and policy actions that could impact precision medicine. Eminent international experts have been invited to contribute to this work, thus representing the state of the art in this field.

As the recognition and consideration of AI in drug development is increasing in significance and applications at all levels, the need has arisen for a reference text that can be used across disciplines to guide research and practice based on a precision medicine paradigm. This book is meant for drug hunters, AI and HPC experts, students, policymakers, academic researchers, and other stakeholders to encourage and promote a precision medicine approach in basic research and clinical practice, as well as novel policy actions. 

A big thank you goes out to the contributing authors for their enthusiasm in joining the project and their dedication to the chapters. 

Last but not least, a special thanks to the Nobel Laureate Dr. Arieh Warshel from University of Southern California and Dr. Thomas Skordas, deputy director-general  of Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology from the European Commission, for their input which uniquely values and frames the importance of the work done by the science and technology teams.

Exscalate4Cov is now a book on High-Performance Computing for COVID Drug Discovery

Rafael Cypriano Dutra, one of the world's most cited scientists, is in Dompé's labs

Rafael Cypriano Dutra, 39, director of Translational Research at Dompé research labs in Naples, Italy was one of the 

500 thousand most cited scientists globally from all disciplines 

in 2021, according to study conducted by the University of Stanford at the end of 2022 based on data from Elsevier publishing.  Before joining Dompé, Rafael was a full professor of pharmacology at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in Florianopolis, Brazil where his work has earned him the stature of being one of the top researchers 

 and has earned him a spot on the world’s most cited scientists global list.  

 Rafael’s research focuses primarly on autoimmune diseases, from the skin to the bowel, including those concerning the liver.  "

The more than 80 scientific papers published during my time at UFSC between 2012 and 2022 addressed basic research in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. But I have also worked in neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-related disorders," 

"Today, I continue to work in a space bridging pharmacology, immunology, and neuroscience in preclinical research on animal models, focusing on translational findings that can lead to clinical application in humans."

Inclusion in the “most cited” database drives authority and visibility in the field but for Rafael, it means so much more.  “

I am proud to be included on this list as it is recognition for decades of dedication and commitment to hard work and accomplishments, many of which have emerged in conjunction with the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Dutra. “It also means having more responsibility, both to fellow researchers and to Dompé." 

 Achieving such notable scientific results are even more remarkable as funds for public scientific research are scarce.  Delivering scientific value is complex and makes it more difficult to build credibility beyond national borders. 

Dutra points out that while the university environment from which he hails offers freedom and flexibility, it is also quite bureaucratic and that corporate life offers new perspectives

. "The most important thing for me now is no longer the publication of interesting papers, but rather to collaborate on making drugs and bring them to clinical phase and future approval" 

 "As a Dompé employee, I want to contribute to improving on what we do by staying at the forefront of manufacturing and science.”

From public to private research, moving from Brazil to Italy, the new path taken at Dompé by Dutra is a considerable leap in many ways. "Changing continents remains a great challenge, because of the language and culture and the fact that part of my family still lives in Brazil. However, I am pleased to be in Italy, where I have planted roots and whose citizenship I now hold". 

From Denmark to Spain and Italy: the journey of a researcher

The increasingly close link between the public and private research has brought unprecedented benefits to patients. For Dompé farmaceutici, collaboration with the public research system has become a fundamental pillar in creating a new healthcare system. But how do these two very different worlds come together? Thanks to researchers, the two ways of doing research become interconnected. An example is the working career of Pier Giorgio Amendola, a graduate in Applied Biology for Biomedical research and today Associate Director of the Discovery Biology team at Dompé.

"I am happy to have returned to Italy to bring back to my country the skills and knowledge acquired abroad during a long period that lasted almost 12 years, in which I faced different projects that made me grow," he explains. "I have to say that the real added value in having different experiences is learning to adapt quickly to new contexts, perhaps very different from your past." As part of his Ph.D. and postdoctoral experience, Amendola spent seven years at the Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC) at the University of Copenhagen. Then he moved to Barcelona to work for Ona Therapeutics; a startup focused on oncology treatments. Finally, he returned to Italy in Naples at Dompé, one of Europe's centers of research excellence. "Two years after starting my activity at Dompé, I am involved in more than 20 different research projects, and I coordinate several teams. I am convinced that in pharmaceutical research, the achievement of challenging goals requires both high laboratory skills and adequate networking capabilities at the national and international level."