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Key Figures

Key Figures for 2019

A 100% family-owned company - 1.021 employees
Turnover of €266.9 millions
16 subsidiaries and 101 distributors countries
52 million products manufactured
3.44% of turnover invested in Innovation Research & Development
1.018 patents filed worldwide since 1997
More than 15 years of commitment to CSR

History

Expanscience is a pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics laboratory that has been developing its expertise in skincare and in treating osteoarthritis for 70 years.

 

Innovations, major launches, breaking onto new markets… Learn more about our history – which is intertwined with the history of Piasclédine 300 and Mustela, our two leading brands in France which are also renowned throughout the world.

  • Key dates
    1950

    Launch
    of the first
    Mustela cleansing milk

    Over the years
    The history of Laboratoires Expanscience

    Today

    Wide-ranging expertise
    in plant extraction
    & a responsible innovation
    strategy

  • 1950

    A family-owned business, Expanscience is the result of two sets of expertise coming together: that of industrialist Paul Berthomé, and that of a pharmacist. The two men join forces in 1950, driven by a shared ambition – to create dermatological hygiene products, designed using pharmaceutical methods to guarantee their quality and ensure the safety of consumers.


    The launch of the first Mustela cleansing lotion is a revolution at the time and marks the beginning of the Dermo-Cosmetics business.

    1950

    Very early on, the decision is made to use pharmacies as a means of distributing and selling the products. In pharmacies, mothers can be sure that the products they purchase have taken a secure route to get to them, but they also know they can get expert advice from pharmacists.

  • 1957

    Expanscience decides to diversify and starts to focus its efforts on pharmaceutical specialities. At the same time, it purchases and takes over the patents of Lyon-based Professor Thiers for the manufacture of avocado and soybean unsaponifiables. These are the ingredients that will eventually lead to the development of Piasclédine 300 with an MA* for Dermatological applications initially.

    1957

    1957 As it continues to grow, Expanscience sets up its first France-based production site in Epernon (Eure-et-Loir).

    * Marketing Authorisation

  • 1963

    Buoyed by the success it has had in France among mothers with its Mustela brand, Expanscience starts growing at international level. It opens a first subsidiary in Belgium.

    1963

  • 1971

    It continues with its drive to establish a presence on new markets in Europe and opens two more subsidiaries in Spain and Switzerland.

    1971

  • 1977

    Laboratoires Expanscience develops and markets cosmetic active ingredients and innovative plant extracts for the cosmetics industry.

    1977

    Supported by continuing research efforts, this activity enhances the company’s expertise in the field of fatty substances and molecular distillation.

  • 1979

    Expanscience continues to develop in Europe and opens a new subsidiary in Portugal

    1979

  • 1982

    Alongside its economic development, Laboratoires Expanscience has always wanted to incorporate a more human dimension into what it does. So in 1982, it creates the Mustela Foundation in order to "promote research into child development and children's relationships with their environment".

    1982

    In the same year, it awards the first university grants to doctoral students and experienced researchers.

  • 1989

    Expanscience opens its first subsidiary in the United States.

    1989

  • 1992

    1992

    Piasclédine 300 is launched as a medicine to treat arthritis. It has since become Laboratoires Expanscience’s leading brand.

  • 1993

    Expanscience continues to win over new markets in Europe and opens a subsidiary in Italy.

    1993

  • 1996

    After creating a number of innovative dermatological care products, the company gives a new boost to this activity by developing the Noviderm brand. Acne treatment products become a strategic priority for Laboratoires Expanscience.
    The Noviderm brand will be sold in 2018 to an independent French laboratory specialized in dermatology.

    1996

  • 1997

    Jean-Paul Berthomé, the son of Paul Berthomé (Expanscience’s co-founder), takes over the reins of the Group. He introduces a new growth strategy based on developing synergies between the company’s various original activities (Dermo-Cosmetics, Rheumatology and Dermatology).

    1997

    It also involves strengthening operations with prescribers, advocates and distributors in France, and developing the company’s presence abroad.

  • 2000

    2000

    Expanscience opens a new R&D centre in France, equipped with cutting-edge equipment. It locates the centre right next to its production site in Epernon.

  • 2002

    Expanscience continues to develop on the American continent and opens a new subsidiary in Mexico.

    2002

  • 2004

    Expanscience joins the United Nations Global Compact and adopts a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach with the goal of contributing to sustainable development.

    2004

  • 2009

    Expanscience continues to expand its presence in Europe with the opening of a new subsidiary in Poland.

    2009

  • 2010

    To strengthen its CSR approach and better coordinate it with company strategy, Expanscience draws up a set of commitments to be met between now and 2015.

    2010

  • 2011

    Expanscience already has an international presence through local distributors and its own subsidiaries, and opens up sales offices in China, Dubai and Hong Kong.

    2011

    In France, Expanscience opens a new building for active ingredients made from plant extracts at its Epernon site. The new building complies with the HEQ (High Environmental Quality) standard.

  • 2013

    Expanscience opens subsidiaries in Brazil and Turkey, bringing the total number up to 11. Expanscience has its Corporate Social Responsibility approach assessed. It is found to be "Exemplary” according to the AFAQ 26000 assessment method.

    2013

  • 2014

    In 2014, Expanscience is expanding its presence in the international dermo-cosmetics market by establishing a subsidiary in Australia.

    2014

  • 2015

    Expanscience is continuing with its drive to win over international markets with two new subsidiaries in Canada and Russia.

    2015

  • 2017

    Expanscience is continuing with its drive to win over international markets with two new subsidiaries in China and Hong Kong.

    2017

  • 2018

    Expanscience is the first French pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics laboratory to become a B Corp. B Corp is an international certification granted to corporations committed to CSR for a better world.

    2018