Sterling Drug
Encyclopedia
Sterling Drug was a global pharmaceutical company based in the United States, known as Sterling-Winthrop, Inc. after the merger with Winthrop-Stearns Inc. (which itself resulted from the merger of Winthrop Chemical Company Inc. and Frederick Stearns & Company) and then as Sterling Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, whose primary product lines included diagnostic imaging agents
, hormonal products, cardiovascular products, analgesic
s, antihistamine
s and muscle relaxants.
Chemical compounds produced by this company are often known by their manufacturing code which consists of the abbreviation WIN (for Winthrop) followed by a number. For example, WIN 18,320 is nalidixic acid, a byproduct of the wartime effort to produce better antimalarials such as chloroquine
.
It was started in 1901 (then called Neuralgyline Co.) in Wheeling, West Virginia
, by Albert H. Diebold and William E. Weiss, a pharmacist.
In 1918, at the end of World War I
, the U.S. assets of the German company now called Bayer AG
were sold to Sterling for US$5.3 million (directed under the Alien Property Custodian
Act). At the time Sterling, like many other pharmaceutical manufactures, was in the dye business, and sold that division for $2.5 million in 1919 to the Grasselli Chemical Company (based in Linden, New Jersey
), which employed many former Bayer personnel. An October 1920 agreement between Sterling and the German Bayer (called Farbenfabriken Bayer in Leverkusen under the direction of Carl Duisberg
of I.G. Farbenindustrie
) allowed Sterling to sell aspirin under the Bayer name. In return, Bayer was allowed back into its old Latin-American markets. In 1922, 50% of Sterling's new holding company, Winthrop, was given to the German Bayer company, while the American Bayer was allowed to continue using the Bayer name. In 1923 Sterling purchased a 1/4 interest in The Centaur Company
, manufacturers of Charles Henry Fletcher
's, Fletcher's Castoria (New York Times, Feb 9, 1923, Page 24, Col 1).
Then, in 1967, Sterling Drug acquired Lehn & Fink, the makers of Lysol
, Resolve, Lime-A-Way, and D-Con. In 1974, Sterling opened a manufacturing plant in McPherson, Kansas
. The various companies which would eventually acquire Sterling chose to keep the factory open. In 1997, Abbott Laboratories
agreed to buy the McPherson plant from Sanofi for $200 million and retain the rights to manufacture injectable drugs manufactured at the facility. In 2006 Abbott Laboratories chose to spin off its hospital products division and formed a new company, Hospira
. Hospira added 174 jobs to the McPherson area in 2006.
In 1988, Sterling was acquired by Eastman Kodak
for $5.1 billion. In 1993, Eastman Kodak/Sterling Winthrop made a partnership with French pharmaceutical company Elf Sanofi (now known as Sanofi Aventis). In 1994, Sanofi acquired the prescription drug operations of Sterling Winthrop from Eastman Kodak for US$1.675 billion, and then it sold the diagnostic-imaging
division a week later to Hafslund Nycomed AS, a Norwegian company, for US$450 million. Kodak then completely owned the over-the-counter drug business, including Bayer Aspirin and the U.S. rights to the Bayer name and trademarks, and sold them to SmithKline Beecham for US$1 billion, who then sold it back to Bayer AG in 1994 for US$1 billion. Spinoffs from the sale of Sterling include Starwin Products
, created in 1987 from Sterling’s original branch in Ghana
. The Lehn & Fink division was acquired by Reckitt & Colman (now Reckitt Benckiser
) at the time of the deal.
Radiocontrast
Radiocontrast agents are a type of medical contrast medium used to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures in an X-ray based imaging techniques such as computed tomography or radiography...
, hormonal products, cardiovascular products, analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
s, antihistamine
Antihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
s and muscle relaxants.
Chemical compounds produced by this company are often known by their manufacturing code which consists of the abbreviation WIN (for Winthrop) followed by a number. For example, WIN 18,320 is nalidixic acid, a byproduct of the wartime effort to produce better antimalarials such as chloroquine
Chloroquine
Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline drug used in the treatment or prevention of malaria.-History:Chloroquine , N'--N,N-diethyl-pentane-1,4-diamine, was discovered in 1934 by Hans Andersag and co-workers at the Bayer laboratories who named it "Resochin". It was ignored for a decade because it was...
.
It was started in 1901 (then called Neuralgyline Co.) in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, by Albert H. Diebold and William E. Weiss, a pharmacist.
In 1918, at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the U.S. assets of the German company now called Bayer AG
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
were sold to Sterling for US$5.3 million (directed under the Alien Property Custodian
Alien Property Custodian
An Alien Property Custodian was an office within the Government of the United States during World War I and again during World War II, serving as a Custodian of Enemy Property to property that belonged to US enemies.-World War I:...
Act). At the time Sterling, like many other pharmaceutical manufactures, was in the dye business, and sold that division for $2.5 million in 1919 to the Grasselli Chemical Company (based in Linden, New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
), which employed many former Bayer personnel. An October 1920 agreement between Sterling and the German Bayer (called Farbenfabriken Bayer in Leverkusen under the direction of Carl Duisberg
Carl Duisberg
Friedrich Carl Duisberg was a German chemist and industrialist.-Life:He was born in Barmen, Germany and from 1879 until 1882 he studied at the "Georg-August-Universität " and Friedrich Schiller University of Jena and received his doctorate .After military service in Munich, which he combined with...
of I.G. Farbenindustrie
IG Farben
I.G. Farbenindustrie AG was a German chemical industry conglomerate. Its name is taken from Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie AG . The company was formed in 1925 from a number of major companies that had been working together closely since World War I...
) allowed Sterling to sell aspirin under the Bayer name. In return, Bayer was allowed back into its old Latin-American markets. In 1922, 50% of Sterling's new holding company, Winthrop, was given to the German Bayer company, while the American Bayer was allowed to continue using the Bayer name. In 1923 Sterling purchased a 1/4 interest in The Centaur Company
The Centaur Company
The Centaur Company, founded in 1871, owned and marketed proprietary medicines, notably, the stimulant laxative Fletcher's Castoria and the ointment Centaur Liniment...
, manufacturers of Charles Henry Fletcher
Charles Henry Fletcher
Charles Henry Fletcher organized and led The Centaur Company, makers of the eponymous "Fletcher's Castoria", serving as President and General Manager.-Birth and relatives:...
's, Fletcher's Castoria (New York Times, Feb 9, 1923, Page 24, Col 1).
Then, in 1967, Sterling Drug acquired Lehn & Fink, the makers of Lysol
Lysol
Lysol is a trade name for common household cleanersLysol may also refer to:* Lysol , a 1992 album by The Melvins* Lysol , Actor muMs da Schemer played Lysol in The Mad Real World skit on Chappelle's Show....
, Resolve, Lime-A-Way, and D-Con. In 1974, Sterling opened a manufacturing plant in McPherson, Kansas
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
. The various companies which would eventually acquire Sterling chose to keep the factory open. In 1997, Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is an American-based global, diversified pharmaceuticals and health care products company. It has 90,000 employees and operates in over 130 countries. The company headquarters are in Abbott Park, North Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded by Chicago physician, Dr....
agreed to buy the McPherson plant from Sanofi for $200 million and retain the rights to manufacture injectable drugs manufactured at the facility. In 2006 Abbott Laboratories chose to spin off its hospital products division and formed a new company, Hospira
Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a U.S.-based global pharmaceutical and medical device company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois. It has approximately 14,000 employees. Hospira is the world's largest producer of generic injectable pharmaceuticals, manufacturing generic acute-care and oncology...
. Hospira added 174 jobs to the McPherson area in 2006.
In 1988, Sterling was acquired by Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
for $5.1 billion. In 1993, Eastman Kodak/Sterling Winthrop made a partnership with French pharmaceutical company Elf Sanofi (now known as Sanofi Aventis). In 1994, Sanofi acquired the prescription drug operations of Sterling Winthrop from Eastman Kodak for US$1.675 billion, and then it sold the diagnostic-imaging
Medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
division a week later to Hafslund Nycomed AS, a Norwegian company, for US$450 million. Kodak then completely owned the over-the-counter drug business, including Bayer Aspirin and the U.S. rights to the Bayer name and trademarks, and sold them to SmithKline Beecham for US$1 billion, who then sold it back to Bayer AG in 1994 for US$1 billion. Spinoffs from the sale of Sterling include Starwin Products
Starwin Products
Starwin Products Ghana is a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Ghana. It is the first pharmaceutical company to be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. It is a component of the GSE All-Share Index. The company currently produces 10 brand name products....
, created in 1987 from Sterling’s original branch in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. The Lehn & Fink division was acquired by Reckitt & Colman (now Reckitt Benckiser
Reckitt Benckiser
Reckitt Benckiser plc is a global consumer goods company headquartered in Slough, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of household products and a major producer of consumer healthcare and personal products...
) at the time of the deal.