History The history of Gedeon Richter encapsulates 116 years of passion and search for the best therapies and the most effective of medicines. It all began with a small pharmacy and its small laboratory, which was focused on the production of organo-therapeutic products made of extracts from animal organs. Even though the beginning was difficult, hard work led to success. Today, Gedeon Richter belongs to one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
1901 The beginning – the first pharmacy Our first pharmacy was opened in Budapest, with a small laboratory at the back, yet great hopes for effective medicines. The laboratory was mainly involved in the production of organo-therapeutic medicines – made from animal organs.
1908 Our production plant In 1907 the dynamically developing company moved its production to the newly erected factory in Kőbánya district of Budapest. The first drugs produced in the new plant included disinfectants, fever relievers, with the most popular being Kalmopyrin (acetylsalicylic acid), which is still used today.
1924 Over 100 pharmaceuticals In 1923, the company was restructured as the limited liability company with the name of Gedeon Richter Zakłady Chemiczne [Chemical Plant]. The success it achieved was owed to the expertise and commitment to ensure a high level of innovativeness. Besides being one of the first companies on the European market to have dealt with the production of insulin, Gedeon Richter was an active player in nearly a hundred pharmaceutical specialities as early as before the outbreak of the First World War.
1932 International network In the inter-war period, the company built 10 branches and 40 representative offices operating abroad, as well as employed agents on all five continents. Until the outbreak of the Second World War, Richter was one of the biggest exporters in Hungary.
1945 Success full of vitamins In 1950s, Gedeon Richter got actively involved in the production of original medications. The company started conducting research on polypeptides and developing production processes for various steroid derivatives. In 1948, the company was nationalised, and its name was changed to Kőbánya Pharmaceutical Company. Its greatest success was the production of vitamin B12. It was this very product that made it possible for the company to become an important player on the global pharmaceutical market again.
1966 Good pharmaceuticals are limitless In the 1960s, Gedeon Richter was a leading medicine supplier to the Soviet Union, and it also expanded its position on the domestic Hungarian market as well as in a group of the Eastern Bloc countries. Good medications knew neither politics nor borders.
1975 Export above all In 1970s, the company recorded another significant increase in the export to the West. This made it possible for the company to extend the scope of its activities and take advantage of its long-term experience in pharmaceutical production through the development of a line of herbal products. The company’s great success was the use of the active substance Vinpocetine, in an original product improving blood flow in the brain. It was launched onto the market in 1977 and appeared to be a real phenomenon all over the world.
1980 Return to the roots – Gedeon Richter Medicines with Vinpocetine remained one of the most popular products of the company, which returned to its initial name – Gedeon Richter – in 1980.
1989 New age, new challenge The social, political and economic changed that swiped through Europe and the former Soviet countries in 1990 spared the company. However, it also suffered losses at that time. As a consequence, the company again concentrated primarily on the pharmaceutical products used in humans, gradually resigning from the production of pesticides, veterinary drugs and cosmetics.
2009 Strong position in Europe & beyond Not only did Richter regain its position in Hungary, but it also became a leading pharmaceutical company in Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, its significance also grew on such markets as the EU, Japan, China and the United States.
2016 Global player The company is present in over 45 countries, has five production plants, 29 representative offices and 39 commercial subsidiaries and wholesale companies. The main objective of the company is to develop its portfolio of products to be able to continuously offer innovative and superior products at affordable prices.