Focused on Life

Providing new therapies to care-givers for diseases that currently have few or no treatment options with the aim to improve the lives of those faced with rare diseases with high unmet medical needs.

History

1993 We were originally formed as Pharma Research Srl as spin-off from Crinos Industria Farmacobiologica SpA, private company founded in 1944, 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 (now known as defibrotide) 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.
July 2001 We changed our name to Gentium S.p.A.
May 2003 FDA designated defibrotide as an orphan drug to treat VOD.
July 2004 EMEA designated defibrotide as an orphan medicinal product to both treat and prevent VOD.
June 2005 Gentium completed an initial public offering of 2,700,000 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each representing one of its ordinary shares, raising $24.3 million. The Company was listed in the American Stock Exchange (“GNT”).
October 2005 Gentium completed a private placement of 1,551,125 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each representing one of its ordinary shares, raising $10.9 million.
May 2006 Our ADSs have been listed on the Nasdaq Global Markey (“GENT”).
June 2006 Gentium completed a private placement of 1,943,525 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each representing one of its ordinary shares, raising $22.1 million.
January 2007 FDA designated defibrotide as an orphan drug to prevent VOD.
February 2007 Gentium completed a private placement of 2,354,000 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each representing one of its ordinary shares, raising $47.5 million.
December 2009 We announced final clinical trial results for our current Phase III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat Severe VOD and our Phase II/III pediatric prevention trial in Europe to prevent VOD at the American Society of Hematology Conference in New Orleans.