Pietro Amico has been working since 2024 as a scientist in the Medicinal Chemistry group at the Ri.MED Foundation, under the guidance of Principal Investigator Dr Maria De Rosa. He graduated with honours in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies in 2017 from the University of Palermo, with a thesis in Organic Chemistry. In 2019, he obtained a Level II Master’s Degree in “Preformulation, Development and Control of Medicines” from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Pavia. During his studies, his research focused mainly on the functionalisation of natural derivatives (terpenoids, curcuminoids, etc.) and the characterisation of molecules with potential anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour activity.

From 2019 to 2024, he held the position of Technical Specialist and Senior R&D Scientist at the production facilities of several pharmaceutical companies (Mylan Inc., Viatris Inc., Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A.), collaborating on scale-up activities in the synthesis of APIs and formulations for pharmaceutical use. At the same time, he was able to implement his expertise in the functionalisation of biopolymers (e.g. hyaluronic acid) for applications in regenerative medicine, osteoarticular therapy and degenerative diseases related to ageing.

Currently, he is a PhD candidate (XXXVIII cycle) in the Doctoral Programme in Chemical Sciences of University of Messina (UniME), specialising in Design, Synthesis, Analysis and Properties of Molecular and Functional Systems.

In 2017, Pietro Amico obtained a Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology (LM-13) from the Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STeBiCeF) of the University of Palermo, with an experimental thesis in Organic Chemistry entitled ‘Synthesis of new alkyl derivatives of natural triterpenic acids with potential biological activity’, under the supervision of Prof. Gianfranco Fontana and Prof. Sergio Rosselli. The experimental activity focused on the development of allylic and n-butyl derivatives of ursolic and oleanolic acids, through the use of organometallic reagents (Grignard). Subsequently, between 2018 and 2019, he was able to continue his research activity as a voluntary research collaborator within the “E. Paternò” Department of Organic Chemistry (Ed. 17) at UniPA.

Later, in 2019, as part of his Level II Master’s Degree in ‘Preformulation, Development and Control of Medicines’ at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Pavia, and under the supervision of Prof. Silvia Stefania Rossi, he collaborated within the Technical Operation Service department of the Mylan (later Viatris Inc.) production plant in Confienza (PV) on the development of topical formulations (aqueous and oily solutions, O/A and A/O emulsions, rinse-offs, gels, semi-solids) for paediatric use.

In 2021, he joined the Local Unit of Noto (SR) of Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. as Senior R&D Scientist in the Innovation Development department. During this period, his main tasks involved pre-industrial and industrial scale-up activities for the production of APIs for pharmaceutical use, in particular, covalent derivatives of biopolymers with peptides with antioxidant activity, to be used as quenchers of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), RCS (Reactive Carbonyl Species), RNS (Reactive Nitrogen Species) and in the regulation of the Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway.

He currently holds the position of Scientist within the Medicinal Chemistry Team, under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (Dr Maria De Rosa). His research activity concerns the development of small molecules as potential inhibitors of the enzyme Prenylcysteine Oxidase 1 (PCYOX1), a new target in cardiology and oncology.