S.A.L.A.R.S.

Sector
Biomedical

Profile
S.A.L.A.R.S., founded in 1932 in Milan, was the first company authorised to process opioids in Italy for pharmaceutical and scientific use. In 1936, its majority shareholding was acquired by Achille Castelli, a national councillor of the State and a prominent figure in Lombardy's commerce and diplomacy, who entrusted his son Cino Castelli with restructuring and managing the company. Cino led the company for 40 years, and from 1967 was supported by his sons. To this day, S.A.L.A.R.S. remains the only company in Italy authorised to produce narcotic medicines.

S.A.L.A.R.S. is a highly specialised drug manufacturer, employing around 50 highly qualified employees. The sensitive nature of the company’s business, which concerns the production and trade of narcotic substances, means that in some cases the production processes and the disclosure of information may differ – for security reasons – from those normally applicable to other pharmaceutical companies producing non-narcotic active ingredients.

Competencies and technologies
The aim of the company's R&D is to keep up with the latest technologies by developing new and more efficient manufacturing processes. Thanks to the joint work of the researchers in Sardinia and the chemists and chemical engineers in Lombardy, the company is developing innovative and more efficient processes for top-quality production.

S.A.L.A.R.S. facilities are periodically inspected by the authorities (e.g. FDA and AIFA) and host a permanent control point of the Financial Police, who check that all operations are properly documented in the ad hoc registers and that all applicable regulations are complied with.

All production processes are filed with and authorised by AIFA. In addition, for products present in the European pharmacopoeia, S.A.L.A.R.S. has obtained European certification from EDQM (CEP - Certificate of Suitability).

Products, services and applications
The products are derived from poppy straw concentrate. S.A.L.A.R.S. is engaged in the development of Cannabidiol (CBD), a substance derived from Cannabis sativa, and also extracts THC, in compliance with legal requirements. Cannabinoids are also used in pain therapy alongside opioids.