1994
Company founded
1995
First gels developed
2005
Relocation to the site on Kurbada Street
2005
First syrups developed (Relaxen, Bronhosil)
2005
First product made at the Kurbada Street site (Relaxen, 16 September)
2005
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate received
2006
First sprays developed (Laringospray and Faringospray)
2008
First capsules developed; recertification with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate
2008
First capsules developed; recertification with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate
2008
Entry to the company’s first exports market in Estonia
2009
First exports to Lithuania
2009
Project to develop a new zero-waste production technology for processing fruits begins
2010
First exports to Czech Republic, Romania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia
2010
Annual production reaches 1 million units for the first time
2010
Faringospray study (at the Kaunas Medical Academy)
2011
First exports to Belarus, Ukraine
2011
Cooperation agreement concluded with the UL Cardiology Institute to carry out the ‘New cholesterol-reducing food supplement research’ project
2011
International project ‘Improvements in the competitiveness of the Latvian and Estonian food industry, based on developing new and improved local fruit and berry products’ begins
2012
EU project to train professionals working in the field and improve competitiveness completed
2012
AS Olainfarm buys its first shares in Silvanols
2012
13 new installations bought for the production and the quality control lab using the support of EU structural funds
2013
AS Olainfarm becomes the majority shareholder in the company
2013
Production of pills begins
2013
Certification according to ISO 9001 and ISO 22 000
2013
EU project ‘Improvements in the skills of professionals working in chemical production and related sectors in Latvia, to improve their competitiveness on the labour market, and to improve the competitiveness of the companies’ completed
2013
First exports to Poland
2014
Astmosil use study (UL)
2014
First exports to Macedonia
2014
Brand update
2015
EU project completed at the Environment, Bioenergetics and Biotechnology Competence Centre
2015
Laringospray use study (UL)
2015
Annual production reaches 2 million units for the first time
2015
First exports to Austria, Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey
2015
Certification according to ISO 13485
2015
Participation in the company delegation in Oslo, Norway, and in a trade mission in Tokyo, Japan, organised by LIAA
2016
First exports to Turkey, and with AS Olainfarm support, to Kosovo and Albania
2016
Silvadeprex study (RSU, Jelgava Psychoneurological Hospital)
2016
New spray production line set up
2016
New research project begins to develop an antiallergenic preventative medical device based on natural substances; and to study product quality, safety and efficacy
2017
First exports to France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and with AS Olainfarm support, to Armenia and Mongolia
2018
Faringospray, Astmosil, Imuvital rebranding as the LONGGO brand group of products
2018
100th series of Faringospray produced
2018
Astmosil/Atmosil randomised placebo-controlled double-blind study (UL and RSU)
2018
Annual production reaches 3 million units for the first time
Story of Silvanols
The Latvian green pharmaceuticals company Silvanols was created on 8 December 1994. Its founder is chemistry professor Ieva Leimane who named the new company in honour of a discovery made by August Ošiņš, a prominent Latvian chemist. Ieva Leimane’s work began with just one lab bench and an infinite desire to see the results of her work. Supported by the Institute of Wood Chemistry and her friends, she developed a unique water-soluble gel base, which was used in 1995 to create the first products by Silvanols: Osteogēls, Rinogēls un Trombogēls. The original base, with its soluble cellulose ether and gelatine, still has no true equivalent. It successfully combines the extracts of various medicinal plants and natural minerals and achieves excellent results. In 1997, all these products were registered in the Medicinal Product Register of Latvia, and thanks to their high effectiveness, the company could start growing on a larger scale, with enough funding to lease appropriate business and production premises, and to build up its equipment. The research and development expanded, too, with ideas for new drugs, medicinal balms and sprays based on extracts of Latvian medicinal plants, fruit juices and oils. The company later started making pills and capsules using dry extracts of medicinal plants and vitamins.
In almost 25 years, Silvanols has grown into a major green pharmaceuticals company with millions in revenue, European quality standards and more than 50 highly-qualified staff members. Silvanols’ product portfolio currently includes about 50 effective and safe products, which make it possible for the company to accomplish its original mission, to make products that preserve the beneficial qualities of natural medicinal plants as much as possible, and to provide people with the most valuable natural substances in order to improve their well-being and quality of life.
Origin of the name
The prominent Latvian chemist Augusts Ošiņš was born on 16th of April 1895. In 1928, he graduated from the University of Latvia, with a degree in Organic Chemistry, and specialising in Chemical Engineering. While he studied, he already worked as an assistant at the Analytical Chemistry Department and did research. In 1932, in an effort to implement his findings, A. Ošiņš built a turpentine factory in Mērsrags where he processed pine logs that had spent at least 25 years in the ground, grinding them up, treating them with steam and petrol, and producing turpentine, rosin and heavy oil. The workers at the factory noticed that the oil they made there was great for healing wounds, making breathing easier, and reducing cough. Serious research began to investigate this oil, involving Latvia’s major chemists and pharmacists, as well as their counterparts in France, Germany and USA. The structure of this substance and its pharmaceutical effect was studied using the progressive methods of the day. Its was found that the oil is effective for treating tuberculosis, and it has an anticancer effect. A. Ošiņš called this newly discovered oil Silvanols.
Although, in the eve of World War 2, there was interest in France and the US to buy patents and start manufacturing the oil, A. Ošiņs did not agree to those deals, believing the Silvanols should remain in Latvia, for the benefit of its people. Unfortunately, after the war, there was no Latvia and no Silvanols, and its creator was exiled to Siberia. In 1994, to commemorate this discovery and honour its creator, the new Silvanols emerged, a company that follows A. Ošiņš’ endeavour of using nature to take care of people and improve their health.
