ICIQ and pharmaceutical company Menarini join forces to discover new drugs against pain and inflammation

The public-private collaboration, with a solid scientific foundation, will have a real impact on improving people’s quality of life.

Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ-CERCA-BIST) and the pharmaceutical company Menarini Spain have joined forces to research new innovative drugs from the family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the treatment of pain and inflammatory processes. The collaboration aims to develop new compounds that reduce the risk of adverse reactions associated with NSAIDs, such as ulcers and digestive bleeding. In this regard, the Menarini-ICIQ project is framed within the shared objective of grounding technological solutions on a solid scientific basis, creating synergies in public-private collaboration to have a real impact on improving the quality of life in society.

“This is a very important collaboration for ICIQ, which strengthens the center’s strategy in technology and knowledge transfer related to medicinal chemistry, in this case of molecule synthesis for innovative drugs, from laboratories and applied research to society,” highlighted Prof. Emilio J. Palomares Gil, the center’s director.

This Wednesday, ICIQ hosted the institutional signing ceremony of the agreement, which was attended by Sandra Ramos, from Tarragona City Council; Ignacio González Casteleiro, general manager of Menarini Spain; and Prof. Emilio J. Palomares Gil, director of ICIQ.

“Seeking innovative solutions in the field of pain is one of the strategic axes of our company. The collaboration with ICIQ strengthens our commitment and continues the line of research initiated in the 1990s, which culminated in the discovery of dexketoprofen trometamol (Enantyum®) at our research center in Badalona,” emphasized Ignacio González Casteleiro, general manager of Menarini, during the signing ceremony.

With more than 135 years of history, Menarini Group, headquartered in Florence (Italy) and present in 140 countries, treats more than 17,000 people. Its products cover needs in areas such as cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, pneumology, infectious diseases, diabetes, inflammation and analgesia.

In this continued commitment to innovation, Menarini Spain and ICIQ are partnering to advance the discovery of the next generation of medications. ICIQ’s research lines address, from a chemical perspective, global challenges such as energy, sustainability, and health. Ultimately, this innovative research aims to contribute to the betterment of society.