The history of Gedeon Richter

Between 1914 and 1945

In the period between the two world wars, the plant became an internationally recognized major factory. When the First World War was over, the Company was one of the largest pharmaceutical factories in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Gradually, the Company became a major pharmaceutical enterprise. Initially, the Company had 30 employees.

In 1923, the Company was transformed into a company limited by shares and in 1926 Gedeon Richter manufactured approximately 100 special pharmaceutical products, mainly organotherapeutic drugs.

The success of the Company was not a coincidence, but the outstanding performance of Gedeon Richter was attributable to the skills and the expertise of its workforce, the Company's research and development capabilities as well as innovation on a continuous basis. Actually, these are the main strengths of the Company even today. The latest scientific developments were applied by the Company in the course of its day-to-day industrial operations with a remarkably short lead time. For example, while insulin was first produced abroad in 1921, Richter launched the marketing of this product as early as in 1923.

Founder Gedeon Richter realized in the initial phase of the Company's development that the expansion of Richter's international commercial network comprised a prerequisite condition for fast growth and development. Consequently, in the period prior to World War II, the Company established 10 subsidiary companies abroad, opened 40 representation offices and operated a worldwide network of agents and agencies. Richter marketed its products in several foreign countries — it was the second largest export company in Hungary when World War II broke out. Richter products were recognized at a number of international exhibitions and trade fairs and were granted prizes and certificates of recognition.

From the very beginning the Company conducted research and development activities. In the late 1920s Gedeon Richter established the first biological laboratory the results of which were applied in the course of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and are considered to be the first achievements in pharmacology. In 1927 there were both a chemical-pharmacological laboratory and an experimental plant in Kőbánya. In the period between the two world wars hormone products that were patented under the Hormo-Gland Richter brand name were extremely successful and the Company also launched a number of vitamin products. In the period between 1906 and 1948, the Company obtained 86 patents. In 1936 the factory had 9 plant divisions and 5 scientific departments and the Company had a staff of 400 blue collar workers as well as 50 administrative employees, doctors, pharmacists and engineers.