Francesco Bellini

Youth and schooling

Born in 1947 in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Bellini immigrated to Canada in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola College (now Concordia University) in 1972 and his doctorate in organic chemistry from University of New Brunswick in 1977. He is the author and co-author of some 30 patents and has published numerous articles and papers based on his research.

Professional biography

Francesco Bellini is chairman of Picchio International, a privately owned company investing mainly in the fields of healthcare. Bellini also serves as Chairman of Klox Technologies – a privately owned company currently developing innovative and highly effective therapeutic and cosmetic solutions for use in the fields of dentistry, dermatology and tissue repair; BELLUS Health – a publicly traded company [TSX:BLU] focusing on developing drugs for rare diseases; and FB Health – a privately owned company involved in the research, development and commercialization of innovative molecules for the prevention and treatment of diseases in the Psychiatric, Neurologic and Geriatric fields.

Until 2001, Bellini was chairman of BioChem Pharma, an industry leader in HIV and a biopharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases and cancer, which he co-founded in 1986. BioChem discovered the antiviral drug Epivir (3TC), which to this day is the cornerstone for AIDS therapy. From 1968 to 1984, he worked as a researcher at the Canadian subsidiary of a multinational pharmaceutical company. In 1984, Bellini established the Biochemicals Division of the Institut Armand-Frappier at the Université du Québec, specializing in research, manufacturing and the commercialization of fine chemicals which in 1986 became BioChem Pharma and in 2001 was successively acquired by Shire plc for $6 billion.

In 2003, his passion for wine resulted in the creation of a state-of-the-art winery, designed to generate the least amount of visual and ecological impact on the environment – a testament to the continuous drive of producing natural wine. Domodimonti is a boutique winery located on the picturesque countryside of Montefiore dell'Aso in Le Marche, Italy.

Prior to this, Bellini was chairman of ViroChem Pharma, which was acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2009. Between 1997 and June 2014, Bellini served as a director on the board of Molson Coors Brewing Company.

Bellini is also a member of the following boards of directors: Montreal Heart Institute Foundation and Italian Chamber of Commerce.

Sport

On 3 February 2014, Bellini founded Ascoli Picchio F.C. 1898, and three days later the new club acquired all the rights of the bankrupted Ascoli Calcio 1898, the historical football team of Bellini's hometown. He is currently the club's President and majority stakeholder.

Philanthropy

He donated $10 M towards a new life sciences building at McGill University. He made a major donation toward a new residence and centre for people with Alzheimer's.

Special honor

For his major contribution in the fields of entrepreneurship, research and economy, Bellini has received the title of ‘Cavaliere del Lavoro’, the most prestigious honor granted by the Italian Republic. Over the years, Bellini has received the following awards.

On the 1st February 2016 he received a PhD honoris causa in Pharmaceutical Science from "La Sapienza University" of Rome.

Awards