Recherche et Industrie Thérapeutiques
Encyclopedia
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 Jacques Lannoy provided the funding for the company. The company started its vaccine
research and production in the 1950s. The present CEO of the company is Jean Stéphenne
.
In 1968 the company was acquired by SmithKline & French
and the name was changed in SmithKline-RIT. In 1989 it became SmithKline Beecham Biologicals, and since 2000 GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals.
Rixensart
Rixensart is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2006 Rixensart had a total population of 21,355. The total area is 17.54 km² which gives a population density of 1,217 inhabitants per km²....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, as a penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
factory in 1945 by Dr Pieter De Somer
Pieter De Somer
Pieter De Somer was a Belgian physician and biologist. He studied medicine from 1935 up to 1942 at the Catholic University of Leuven . He did research and later became a professor at the Department of medicine, where he specialised in microbiology and immunology...
, who later became the founder of the Rega Institute for Medical Research
Rega Institute for Medical Research
The Rega Institute for Medical Research is a Belgian scientific establishment that is part of the Catholic University of Leuven in central Belgium...
and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
(Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). The industrialist Jacques Lannoy provided the funding for the company. The company started its vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
research and production in the 1950s. The present CEO of the company is Jean Stéphenne
Jean Stéphenne
Jean Stéphenne is a Belgian businessman. He studied chemistry and bioindustries and obtained an MSc at the Faculté universitaire des sciences agronomiques de Gembloux in 1972 and an MBA from the Université Catholique de Louvain in 1982....
.
In 1968 the company was acquired by SmithKline & French
SmithKline & French
Smith, Kline & French was a pharmaceutical company, which is now part of GlaxoSmithKline.-History:In 1830, John K. Smith opened a drugstore in Philadelphia, and his younger brother, George, joined him in 1841 to form John K Smith & Co. In 1865, Mahlon Kline joined Smith and Shoemaker, as John K...
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 RixensartRixensartRixensart is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2006 Rixensart had a total population of 21,355. The total area is 17.54 km² which gives a population density of 1,217 inhabitants per km²....
- 1968: R.I.T. becomes a subsidiary company of SmithKline Corp.
- 1989: Merger between SmithKline and BeechamBeecham- Surname :* Thomas Beecham , British chemist, grandfather of the conductor* Thomas Beecham , British conductor* Sir Joseph Beecham, 1st Baronet , eldest son of Thomas Beecham the chemist...
- 1992: Acquisition of SSW-Dresden (GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) - 1995: Extension of the site of Rixensart towards two new sites in Belgium:
- WavreWavreWavre is a town and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital.Wavre is located in the Dyle valley. Most of its inhabitants speak French as mother tongue and are called "Wavriens" and "Wavriennes"...
for the production - GemblouxGemblouxGembloux is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur, on the axis Brussels-NamurOn 1 January 2006 the municipality had 21,964 inhabitants...
for the scaling-up
- Wavre
- 1995: Agreement on a joint-venture in ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
- 1997: Agreement on a joint-venture in RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- 1998: Collaboration agreement with EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
- 1999: Agreement on a partnership with BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
- 2000: Merger between Glaxo and SmithKline to GlaxoSmithKlineGlaxoSmithKlineGlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
Source
- GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (history)