MILAN — Brunello Cucinelli’s vary of pursuits and investments has spanned through the years from trend to tradition, organising his personal theater and faculty, or restoring landmark monuments and the medieval hamlet of Solomeo. Now his consideration has turned to science.
On Wednesday, Cucinelli revealed that he and his household are supporting scientific analysis via an settlement with TES Pharma and the XGEN Enterprise fund with the final word aim to develop modern medication for the therapy of metabolic and oncological ailments.
The dedication is made via Foro delle Arti, Cucinelli’s household mission.
After sharing ideas from thinker and polymath Pythagoras and Saint Augustine, Cucinelli mentioned he wished “to advertise innovation that blends harmoniously with the elemental values of humanism.”
Riccardo Stefanelli, co-chief govt officer of the Brunello Cucinelli firm, was particularly concerned on this mission and can sit on the board of TES Pharma, to be led by CEO Luca Benatti.
“Science is a noble self-discipline that has all the time accompanied the evolution of mankind, inserting individuals on the heart and turning information right into a fertile breeding floor for the expansion of the human being in concord with creation,” mentioned Cucinelli. “The fascinating analysis behind all scientific information is the best lesson we will draw from the historical past of human information. I see this as in line with the care-taking tradition that has all the time impressed our firm.”
TES Pharma was based in 2010 by internationally recognized scientist Roberto Pellicciari — on the time a professor on the College of Perugia, Italy, close to Cucinelli’s headquarters in Solomeo. His analysis achievements embrace the invention of obeticholic acid, a 2016 FDA-approved drug for the therapy of major biliary cholangitis.
Cucinelli bantered with Pellicciari, whereas expressing his sturdy admiration and respect, and recounted how the latter lives above the Etruscan Arch in Perugia that Cucinelli helped restore in 2011.
The corporate’s identify, TES, means “to heal, to deal with, to like” in Etruscan, and is a hyperlink with the historical past of the Umbria area. Cucinelli underscored that “discovering and innovating is as necessary as defending” and reiterated this can be a long-term mission. “Please see this as us supporting humanity, not as an funding,” he cautioned, whereas declining to offer monetary particulars.
“We really feel like we’re on the sting of necessary scientific discoveries that would save lives, and thru our help with XGEN Enterprise we may also help deliver TES to the following stage,” mentioned Stefanelli.
Carolina Cucinelli, Luca Lisandorni, Riccardo Stefanelli, Federica Draghi, Brunello Cucinelli, Roberto Pellicciari, Mark Pruzanski, Paolo Fundarò and Luca Benatti.
“For a few years I’ve had the privilege of guiding TES Pharma and its younger, gifted and passionate researchers of their efforts to find medication for ailments for which there isn’t a treatment,” mentioned Pellicciari. “On this robust journey to the frontiers of therapeutic innovation, I’ve been supported by Brunello Cucinelli and his household, and particularly Riccardo Stefanelli, in an ongoing engagement between scientific and humanistic approaches, really two sides of the identical coin.”
XGEN Enterprise specializes within the medical-scientific discipline and was based by Paolo Fundarò; Federica Draghi, daughter of Italy’s former Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and Daniele Scarinci. The fund was lately launched after their profitable expertise in Genextra, and helps modern start-ups within the fields of biotechnology and medical gadgets, primarily in Italy. It has already invested in 5 firms within the trade. Fundarò mentioned XGEN Enterprise raised a capital improve of 10 million euros.