{"id":9539,"date":"2025-06-16T09:40:30","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T07:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/our-history-2\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T12:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T11:06:39","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"Our history"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Our history<\/span><\/h1><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 1990s<\/h4>

Epitech Group’s research activity begins: following in the footsteps of Rita Levi Montalcini,<\/strong> a group of young researchers understand the importance of a pharmacological intervention to modulate the so-called “non-neuronal” cells<\/strong> (mast cells, microglia and astrocytes), involved in the control of peripheral and central nervous sensitivity, to counteract neuroinflammation and pain common to various pathologies.<\/p>

Studying the biological role of these cells led the brilliant research group to identify, in collaboration with Prof. Montalcini’s laboratories, the mechanism that regulates the reactivity of non-neuronal cells, which they define as “ALIA<\/strong>” (Autacoid Local Injury Antagonism), thanks to the endogenous substance Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1990s – Brainstorming between Francesco della Valle, Founder of Epitech Group, and Rita Levi Montalcini.<\/em> \u00a9 Epitech Group SpA<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mast cells (purple) in colon submucosa.<\/em>
Courtesy of Dr. Elena Lucarini, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Florence (NEUROFARBA). \u00a9 Epitech Group SpA<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1994<\/h4>

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A patent application is filed for the protection of the method for synthesising exogenous Palmitoylethanolamide<\/strong> (F. della Valle et al.).<\/p>

2002<\/h4>

An application is filed for the first patent protecting <\/strong>a body-usable form (micronised) of exogenous palmitoylethanolamide (F. della Valle et al.).
Our research shows us that the palmitoylethanolamide obtained using the previously-patented method of synthesis has poor bioavailability when administered systemically. We realise that particle size<\/strong> is a critical issue.<\/p>

2004<\/h4>

As a result of our research, the company enters the human health market with the application of the ALIA mechanism to the podological dermatology<\/strong> setting.<\/p>

2006<\/h4>

The innovative micronization <\/strong>technology, which makes PEA bioavailable, allows us to develop modulation strategies without side effects and particularly effective on chronic-neuropathic pain and neurodegenerative diseases.<\/p>

The company launches Normast 300 mg, the first product containing a bioavailable form of Palmitoylethanolamide<\/strong>, supported by pre-clinical and clinical evidence.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mast cells (purple) in colon submucosa.<\/em>
Courtesy of Dr. Elena Lucarini, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Florence (NEUROFARBA). \u00a9 Epitech Group SpA<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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2008<\/h4>

Epitech Group starts attracting the attention of the scientific and business worlds<\/strong> at international level. We sign the first licensing agreements for molecules developed by Epitech Group.<\/p>

2015<\/h4>

Our commitment to research continues to grow with the opening of two local preclinical units in Messina and Pozzuoli<\/strong>.
Epitech Group becomes a joint-stock company and obtains Quality System certification<\/strong> (ISO 9001: ISO 13485).<\/p>

2017<\/h4>

The company\u2019s inclusion in the list of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises<\/strong> is a formal acknowledgement of our spirit of innovation.<\/p>

2019<\/h4>

Thanks to its fervid research activities, Epitech Group expands its baggage of innovation: in 2019 our patent portfolio consists of 262 international patents<\/strong> covering the therapeutic use of ALIAmides.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Co-coltura di microglia e astroglia. \u00a9 Epitech Group SpA<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2020<\/h4>

We open a new facility, a new technical department with chemistry laboratories<\/strong> and equipment for producing topical products<\/strong>.<\/p>

2023<\/h4>

We move to a new company headquarters<\/strong> in order to accommodate the company\u2019s growing workforce. Between 2018 and 2023, Epitech Group doubles its turnover<\/strong>.<\/p>

2025<\/h4>

In the first quarter we crossed the threshold of 400 international patents<\/strong> granted on molecules conceived by our researchers. A result that materializes the constant increase in knowledge<\/strong> on neuroinflammatory mechanisms<\/strong>, and that paves the way to important future developments. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Microglia and astroglia co-colture. \u00a9 Epitech Group SpA<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our history The 1990s Epitech Group’s research activity begins: following in the footsteps of Rita…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13012,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9539","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9539"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12995,"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9539\/revisions\/12995"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.epitech.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}