The activity was set up in 1870 as the 21st pharmaceutical centre in town, and directed by Dr. Giuseppe Pifferi for the following thirty years. The direction passed then to Dr. Michele Chieffo (Gr. Uff.), a charismatic figure well remembered by the Romans who think of him as the real "founder" of the pharmacy. Under his direction, which he held until November 1952, the 21st centre "Pinciana", became more and more popular, both for its distinguished clientele (amongst others the Savoia Royal Family, whose coat-of-arms is faithfully reproduced on the products' labels), and for the high professional standard and know-how of the staff, with chemists coming from different countries, selected with rigour after a period on probation.
In 1952 the Chieffo pharmacy passed on to a new owner, Dr. Giuseppe Wassermann, a well-known industrialist from Milan, head of the homonymous pharmaceutical firm.
Today, Dr. Anna Laura Santi (who took over in 1974) tries to preserve the traditional activity of expert in galenics, while engaging as a modern educator in the National Health Service.