COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2834

Pharmaceutical Preparations

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

56companies1843–1995founding years52still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedFisons plc
1843
FoundedBausch & Lomb Inc.
1853
FoundedMallinckrodt Group Inc.
1882
FoundedThe Boots Company PLC
1883
FoundedBOC Group plc
1886
FoundedRhône-Poulenc S.A.
1895
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.
FoundedShionogi & Co., Ltd.
1919
FoundedWarner-Lambert Co.
1920
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.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedBayer A.G.
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedThe Upjohn Company
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedRoussel Uclaf
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedMontedison S.p.A.
1966
FoundedAkzo Nobel N.V.
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedGlaxo Holdings PLCFoundedNature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedRoberts Pharmaceutical Corporation
1983
FoundedNobel Industries AB
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedSun Healthcare Group Inc.
1989
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
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

Fisons plc →
Active · founded 1843 · United Kingdom
In 1995 Fisons plc was acquired by Pennsylvania-based Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc., in turn wholly owned by France's…
Fisons plc →
Active · founded 1843 · United Kingdom
In 1995 Fisons plc was acquired by Pennsylvania-based Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc., in turn wholly owned by France's…
Bausch & Lomb Inc. →
Active · founded 1853
Bausch & Lomb Inc.
Bausch & Lomb Inc. →
Active · founded 1853
Bausch & Lomb Inc.
Chattem, Inc. →
Active · founded 1879
Chattem, Inc.
Chattem, Inc. →
Active · founded 1879
Chattem, Inc.
Mallinckrodt Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1882
Mallinckrodt Group Inc.
Mallinckrodt Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1882
Mallinckrodt Group Inc.
The Boots Company PLC →
Active · founded 1883 · United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, in addition to being a major manufacturer…
The Boots Company PLC →
Active · founded 1883 · United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, in addition to being a major manufacturer…
Ciba-Geigy Ltd. →
Active · founded 1884 · Switzerland
Ciba-Geigy is the largest chemical company in Switzerland.
Ciba-Geigy Ltd. →
Active · founded 1884 · Switzerland
Ciba-Geigy is the largest chemical company in Switzerland.
BOC Group plc →
Active · founded 1886 · England
BOC Group plc is one of the world's largest producers of industrial gases essential to almost every manufacturing…
BOC Group plc →
Active · founded 1886 · England
BOC Group plc is one of the world's largest producers of industrial gases essential to almost every manufacturing…
Rhône-Poulenc S.A. →
Active · founded 1895 · France
Rhône-Poulenc S.A.
Rhône-Poulenc S.A. →
Active · founded 1895 · France
Rhône-Poulenc S.A.
American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Japan
Shionogi & Co., Ltd., ranks among Japan's leading developers, producers, and exporters of pharmaceuticals.
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1919 · Japan
Shionogi & Co., Ltd., ranks among Japan's leading developers, producers, and exporters of pharmaceuticals.
Warner-Lambert Co. →
Active · founded 1920
The Warner-Lambert Co.
Warner-Lambert Co. →
Active · founded 1920
The Warner-Lambert Co.
Baxter International Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
Baxter International Inc.
Baxter International Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
Baxter International Inc.
Bayer A.G. →
Active · founded 1952 · Germany
Bayer A.G., along with BASF and Hoechst, is heir to the German chemical cartel known as I.G.
Bayer A.G. →
Active · founded 1952 · Germany
Bayer A.G., along with BASF and Hoechst, is heir to the German chemical cartel known as I.G.
Roche Bioscience →
Active · founded 1957
Roche Bioscience was formed in 1995 following the acquisition of Syntex Corp.
Roche Bioscience →
Active · founded 1957
Roche Bioscience was formed in 1995 following the acquisition of Syntex Corp.
The Upjohn Company →
Active · founded 1958
Upjohn is one of the largest ethical drug manufacturers in the United States.
The Upjohn Company →
Active · founded 1958
Upjohn is one of the largest ethical drug manufacturers in the United States.
Roussel Uclaf →
Active · founded 1961 · France
Roussel Uclaf is one of France's most important pharmaceutical companies and among the world's leading diversified…
Roussel Uclaf →
Active · founded 1961 · France
Roussel Uclaf is one of France's most important pharmaceutical companies and among the world's leading diversified…
Marion Merrell Dow, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Marion Merrell Dow is the product of a 1989 merger between Marion Laboratories, once a prosperous pharmaceutical…
Marion Merrell Dow, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Marion Merrell Dow is the product of a 1989 merger between Marion Laboratories, once a prosperous pharmaceutical…
Montedison S.p.A. →
Defunct · founded 1966 · Italy
Montedison S.p.A.
Montedison S.p.A. →
Defunct · founded 1966 · Italy
Montedison S.p.A.
Akzo Nobel N.V. →
Active · founded 1969 · Netherlands
The Dutch company Akzo Nobel N.V.
Akzo Nobel N.V. →
Active · founded 1969 · Netherlands
The Dutch company Akzo Nobel N.V.
Block Drug Company, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1970
Block Drug Company, Inc.
Block Drug Company, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1970
Block Drug Company, Inc.
Glaxo Holdings PLC →
Active · founded 1972 · England
One of Britain's most esteemed companies, Glaxo Holdings PLC is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical entities,…
Glaxo Holdings PLC →
Active · founded 1972 · England
One of Britain's most esteemed companies, Glaxo Holdings PLC is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical entities,…
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
A leading alternative health care company, Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
A leading alternative health care company, Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
Jones Medical Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Founded in 1981, Jones Medical Industries, Inc.
Jones Medical Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Founded in 1981, Jones Medical Industries, Inc.
Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
A small yet fast-growing pharmaceutical company, Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation licenses or buys drugs that are…
Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
A small yet fast-growing pharmaceutical company, Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation licenses or buys drugs that are…
Nobel Industries AB →
Active · founded 1984 · Sweden
Nobel Industries AB is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of specialty industrial chemicals, paints, and adhesives.
Nobel Industries AB →
Active · founded 1984 · Sweden
Nobel Industries AB is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of specialty industrial chemicals, paints, and adhesives.
Hoechst Celanese Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
A subsidiary of the enormous German chemical company Hoechst A.G., Hoechst Celanese Corporation manufactured and sold a…
Hoechst Celanese Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
A subsidiary of the enormous German chemical company Hoechst A.G., Hoechst Celanese Corporation manufactured and sold a…
Sun Healthcare Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sun Healthcare Group Inc.
Sun Healthcare Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sun Healthcare Group Inc.
Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
An international manufacturer of pharmaceuticals formed through the 1995 merger of the Pharmacia A.B.
Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
An international manufacturer of pharmaceuticals formed through the 1995 merger of the Pharmacia A.B.
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