COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 325411

Medicine and Botanical Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

66companies1876–1997founding years66still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedHenkel KGaA
1876
FoundedBurns, Philp & Company Ltd.
1882
FoundedEastman Kodak Company
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedF. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
1919
FoundedArcher-Daniels-Midland Company
1923
FoundedMerck & Co., Inc.
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedChugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
1943
FoundedTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedKyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
1949
FoundedShaklee Corporation
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedIsrael Chemicals Ltd.
1968
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedIVC Industries, Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedAlpharma Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAmersham PLC
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedMelaleuca Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedRelìv International, Inc.
1988
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedUSANA, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedCaliper Life Sciences, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Henkel KGaA →
Active · founded 1876 · Germany
Based in Germany, Henkel KGaA is one of the world's largest chemical companies.
Henkel KGaA →
Active · founded 1876 · Germany
Based in Germany, Henkel KGaA is one of the world's largest chemical companies.
Burns, Philp & Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1882 · Australia
Long a part of Australia's corporate establishment, Burns, Philp & Company Ltd.
Burns, Philp & Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1882 · Australia
Long a part of Australia's corporate establishment, Burns, Philp & Company Ltd.
Pfizer Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1870s:Dr.
Pfizer Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1870s:Dr.
Eastman Kodak Company →
Active · founded 1901
A multinational corporation whose name and film products are familiar to photographers around the world, Eastman Kodak…
Eastman Kodak Company →
Active · founded 1901
A multinational corporation whose name and film products are familiar to photographers around the world, Eastman Kodak…
Teijin Limited →
Active · founded 1918 · Japan
Teijin Limited is one of the leading Japanese manufacturers of synthetic fibers, with fibers and textiles accounting…
Teijin Limited →
Active · founded 1918 · Japan
Teijin Limited is one of the leading Japanese manufacturers of synthetic fibers, with fibers and textiles accounting…
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Switzerland
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, F.
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Switzerland
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, F.
PLIVA d.d. →
Active · founded 1921 · Croatia
PLIVA d.d.
PLIVA d.d. →
Active · founded 1921 · Croatia
PLIVA d.d.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company →
Active · founded 1923
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is one of the world's leading processors and distributors of agricultural products…
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company →
Active · founded 1923
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is one of the world's leading processors and distributors of agricultural products…
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Merck & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
1940s:Merck's laboratories make a series of discoveries: vitamin B12, cortisone, streptomycin.
Merck & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
1940s:Merck's laboratories make a series of discoveries: vitamin B12, cortisone, streptomycin.
Ube Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Ube Industries, Ltd.
Ube Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Ube Industries, Ltd.
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1943 · Japan
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1943 · Japan
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. →
Active · founded 1944 · Israel
With more than one-third of the nation's drug sales, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. →
Active · founded 1944 · Israel
With more than one-third of the nation's drug sales, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Vita Plus Corporation →
Active · founded 1948
Computerized formulas, which Vita Plus provided to individual farmers, continued to play a central role in the…
Vita Plus Corporation →
Active · founded 1948
Computerized formulas, which Vita Plus provided to individual farmers, continued to play a central role in the…
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1949 · Japan
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1949 · Japan
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. →
Active · founded 1950 · Israel
Taro Pharmaceutical Industrials Ltd.
Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. →
Active · founded 1950 · Israel
Taro Pharmaceutical Industrials Ltd.
Shaklee Corporation →
Active · founded 1956
Shaklee Corporation, a subsidiary of Yamanouchi Consumer Inc., is a major producer and distributor of nutritional…
Shaklee Corporation →
Active · founded 1956
Shaklee Corporation, a subsidiary of Yamanouchi Consumer Inc., is a major producer and distributor of nutritional…
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · India
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · India
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
Israel Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1968 · Israel
Israel Chemicals Ltd.
Israel Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1968 · Israel
Israel Chemicals Ltd.
Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
A fast-growing generic drug company, Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., develops, manufactures, and markets generic and…
Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
A fast-growing generic drug company, Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., develops, manufactures, and markets generic and…
IVC Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
IVC Industries, Inc.
IVC Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
IVC Industries, Inc.
NBTY, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
NBTY, Inc.
NBTY, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
NBTY, Inc.
Alpharma Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Alpharma Inc.
Alpharma Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Alpharma Inc.
Amersham PLC →
Active · founded 1982 · United Kingdom
Initially known as Amersham International PLC, Amersham PLC was formed in 1997 through the merger of Amersham…
Amersham PLC →
Active · founded 1982 · United Kingdom
Initially known as Amersham International PLC, Amersham PLC was formed in 1997 through the merger of Amersham…
Martek Biosciences Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Martek Biosciences Corporation develops and sells products derived from the microalgae it grows.
Martek Biosciences Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Martek Biosciences Corporation develops and sells products derived from the microalgae it grows.
Melaleuca Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
s: 325411 Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing Melaleuca, Inc.
Melaleuca Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
s: 325411 Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing Melaleuca, Inc.
Natural Alternatives International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Natural Alternatives International, Inc.
Natural Alternatives International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Natural Alternatives International, Inc.
Relìv International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Relìv International, Inc.
Relìv International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Relìv International, Inc.
The Quigley Corporation →
Active · founded 1989
Operating out of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, The Quigley Corporation makes over-the-counter homeopathic remedies.
The Quigley Corporation →
Active · founded 1989
Operating out of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, The Quigley Corporation makes over-the-counter homeopathic remedies.
USANA, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Although still a young company, USANA, Inc.
USANA, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Although still a young company, USANA, Inc.
Nutraceutical International Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Nutraceutical International Inc.
Nutraceutical International Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Nutraceutical International Inc.
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.
Natrol, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
Natrol, Inc.
Natrol, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
Natrol, Inc.
Build It Today

Starting a medicine and botanical manufacturing company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.