The connection between Bertarelli and Israel started in the ‘60’s when the
Ares-Serono conglomerate began co-operating with Israeli scientists.
Fabio Bertarelli, who founded the multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate Ares-Serono, and Interpharm Israel, died yesterday (Wednesday), at the age of 73.
The connection between Bertarelli and Israel started in the ‘60’s when the Ares-Serono conglomerate began co-operation with Israeli scientists, Prof. Bruno Lonnenfeld and Dr. Aliza Eshkol, who were researching the treatment of infertility. In 1976 he set up Interpharm Israel, which today has a staff of 300, and exports over $40 million annually.
Since 1980, Bertarelli has financially supported research at the Weizmann Institute and he developed close ties with scientists at the institute. The connection made with Prof. Michel Ravel led to the development of "Rebif", a new drug to treat multiple sclerosis. Ares-Serono employs 4,000 workers, and has annual sales of close on one billion dollars.
Published by Israel's Business Arena January 8, 1998