The cephalosporins are a naturally occurring class of antibiotics, which are widely used in the clinic. The first microorganism that produces them was discovered in 1945 by Sardinian physician and scientist, Giuseppe Brotzu, who also investigated their antibacterial properties in vitro and in vivo. Their chemical structure was determined several years later by scientists working in the United Kingdom.

50 years after their discovery, the cephalosporins remain an essential component of antibacterial therapy.

Rifampicin is a potent antibacterial agent that, in combination with other antibiotics, is widely used in the treatment of two deadly infections: tuberculosis and leprosy. It was discovered and isolated in 1957 by chemist Piero Sensi at the Lepetit research laboratories in Milan.

Teicoplanin is an antibacterial drug active on a wide range of microorganisms and is also effective in infections that have developed resistance to other antibiotics. This life-saving medicine was identified in the early 1970s by biologist Franco Parenti, working at the Lepetit laboratories in Milan, during the screening of natural substances that interfere with bacterial wall function.