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{{Verification|date=August 2022}}{{Short description|Defunct French Agriculture Company}}
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[[Image:Rhône-Poulenc Logo.png|right|300px|Logo]]
{{Infobox company
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'''Rhône-Poulenc''' was a French chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in 1928 through the merger of '''Société des Usines Chimiques du Rhône''' (Society of Rhône Chemical Factories) from Lyon and '''Établissements Poulenc Frères''' (Poulenc Brothers Company) from Paris founded by Étienne Poulenc a 19th century Parisian apothecary and brought to prominance by his second and third sons Emile<sup>[1]</sup> and Camille Poulenc. In January 1999, Rhône-Poulenc merged with [[Hoechst AG]] to form [[Aventis]]. In 2004, Aventis went on to merge with [[Sanofi-Synthélabo]] forming [[Sanofi-Aventis]], the third largest pharmaceutical company in the world.
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| name = Rhône-Poulenc
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| logo = [[File:Rhône-Poulenc Logo.svg|250px|Rhône-Poulenc]]
| type = merged with [[Hoechst AG]]
| traded_as =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1928}}
| founder = Étienne Poulenc
| location =
| key_people =
| industry = [[Chemical industry|Chemicals]]
| products = Chemicals and pharmaceuticals
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| num_employees =
| homepage =
| intl =
}}


'''Rhône-Poulenc''' ({{IPA|fr|ʁon pulɛ̃k}}) was a French chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in 1928. In 1999, it merged with [[Hoechst AG]] to form [[Aventis]]. As of 2015, the pharmaceutical operations of Rhône-Poulenc are part of [[Sanofi]] and the chemicals divisions are part of [[Solvay (company)|Solvay group]] and [[Bayer#Bayer CropScience|Bayer Crop Science]].
The agricultural chemicals division of Rhône-Poulenc, known as Aventis CropScience after the merger with Hoechst, was sold to the German chemical and pharmaceutical company [[Bayer#Bayer_CropScience|Bayer]] in 2002. In 1998, the chemicals division of Rhône-Poulenc was spun-off into a separate company named [[Rhodia (company)|Rhodia]].


==History==
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Rhône-Poulenc originally funded the ''Rhône-Poulenc Prizes'', now known as the [[Royal Society Prizes for Science Books]].
[[File:Usines Chimiques Rhone Poulenc 1928.jpg|thumb|alt=Founder's stock certificate of the Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc for 100 francs, issued on 5 September 1928 in Paris, with the signature of Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer as Chairman of the Supervisory Board|Founder's stock certificate of the Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc for 100 francs, issued on 5 September 1928 in Paris, with the signature of Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer<ref>https://dfih.fr/persons/51031 | DFIH — Data for Financial History | Person: Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer</ref> as Chairman of the Supervisory Board]]
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The company was founded in 1928 through the merger of '''Société des usines chimiques du Rhône''' (Society of Rhône Chemical Factories) from Lyon and [[Poulenc Frères]] (Poulenc Brothers) from Paris founded by Étienne Poulenc, a 19th-century Parisian apothecary and brought to prominence by his second and third sons Émile, father of composer [[Francis Poulenc]], and Camille Poulenc (1864–1942). Établissements Poulenc Frères had purchased May & Baker in 1922, the latter continuing to trade under its original name until 1990.


In 1950, the company synthesized [[chlorpromazine]] which it sold to Smith, Kline & French (today part of [[GlaxoSmithKline]]) who marketed the drug as Thorazine.<ref>{{cite book|author=Whitaker, Robert|title=Mad in America|publisher=Perseus (Basic Books)|year=2002|page=142|isbn=978-0-465-02014-0}}</ref> In 1986, Rhône-Poulenc acquired the German pharmaceutical [[A. Nattermann|A. Natterman & Cie GmbH]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1987-03-09 |title=Rhone-poulenc drug strategy includes "Eventual" U.S. Expansion |url=https://invivo.pharmaintelligence.informa.com/PS011575/RHONEPOULENC-DRUG-STRATEGY-INCLUDES-EVENTUAL-US-EXPANSION |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Pharma Intelligence}}</ref> In 1990, it merged with the pharmaceutical company Rorer to form Rhône-Poulenc Rorer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.sanofi.com/history/ajax/en_rhone_poulenc.html |title=Rhône Poulenc |access-date=2015-09-08 |archive-date=2015-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128180338/http://en.sanofi.com/history/ajax/en_rhone_poulenc.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In January 1999, Rhône-Poulenc merged with [[Hoechst AG]] to form Aventis. In 2004, Aventis went on to merge with Sanofi-Synthélabo forming Sanofi-Aventis, the third-largest pharmaceutical company in the world. In 2011, Sanofi-Aventis decided to drop the Aventis suffix and change its name to [[Sanofi]].
<sup>[1]</sup> Emile Poulenc was the father of the French composer [[Francis Poulenc]].


The company was bought by Établissements Poulenc Frères (later to become Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc) in 1922, and subsequently moved to Dagenham, Essex, although it continued to trade under the May & Baker name.

In 1997, its chemicals division was spun off into a separate company named [[Rhodia (company)|Rhodia]] and was later acquired by the [[Solvay (company)|Solvay]] group in 2011. The agricultural chemicals division of Rhône-Poulenc, known as Aventis CropScience after the merger with Hoechst, was sold to the German chemical and pharmaceutical company [[Bayer#Bayer CropScience|Bayer]] in 2002.

In 1997 Rhône-Poulenc came to play a central part in what is claimed to be the worst environmental accident in Sweden's history. Rhône-Poulenc supplied [[Rhoca-Gil]] for the building of the [[Hallandsås Tunnel|Hallandsås tunnel]]. The chemical leaked into the artesian water, causing great damage to cattle, surrounding nature and workers at the construction site.
Rhône-Poulenc was criticised for not pointing out the risks of using the sealant, which contained [[acrylamide]] and is considered to be carcinogenic. Criminal charges were brought against the company and In June 2001, the managing director of the former Rhône-Poulenc Sweden was found guilty of breaching the Chemical Products Act, and was to pay 60 [[day-fine]]s at SEK650 for a total of SEK60,000.<ref>Mårald (2007), p. 111-117 - ''See also printed sources''</ref>

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Rhône-Poulenc originally funded the ''Rhône-Poulenc Prizes'', now known as the [[Royal Society Prizes for Science Books]].

==Literature==
* Chauveau, Sophie. 1999. L'Invention pharmaceutique : la pharmacie française entre l'État et la société au XX<sup>e</sup> siècle. Le Plessis-Robinson: Sanofi-Synthélabo.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Plant Genetic Systems]]
* [[Plant Genetic Systems]]
* [[Sanofi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Sanofi}}
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[[Category:Companies established in 1928]]
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Companies of France]]
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[[Category:Pharmaceutical companies]]
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[[Category:Sanofi-Aventis]]


[[de:Rhône-Poulenc]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhone-Poulenc}}
[[Category:Pharmaceutical companies disestablished in 1999]]
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[[fr:Rhône-Poulenc]]
[[Category:Pharmaceutical companies established in 1928]]
[[it:Rhône-Poulenc]]
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[[Category:Pharmaceutical companies of France]]
[[no:Rhône-Poulenc]]
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[[Category:Defunct companies of France]]
[[pl:Rhône-Poulenc]]
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[[Category:Sanofi]]
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[[Category:French companies established in 1928]]
[[Category:1999 mergers and acquisitions]]

Latest revision as of 12:41, 11 September 2024

Rhône-Poulenc
Company typemerged with Hoechst AG
IndustryChemicals
Founded1928; 96 years ago (1928)
FounderÉtienne Poulenc
ProductsChemicals and pharmaceuticals

Rhône-Poulenc (French pronunciation: [ʁon pulɛ̃k]) was a French chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in 1928. In 1999, it merged with Hoechst AG to form Aventis. As of 2015, the pharmaceutical operations of Rhône-Poulenc are part of Sanofi and the chemicals divisions are part of Solvay group and Bayer Crop Science.

History

[edit]
Founder's stock certificate of the Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc for 100 francs, issued on 5 September 1928 in Paris, with the signature of Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer as Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Founder's stock certificate of the Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc for 100 francs, issued on 5 September 1928 in Paris, with the signature of Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer[1] as Chairman of the Supervisory Board

The company was founded in 1928 through the merger of Société des usines chimiques du Rhône (Society of Rhône Chemical Factories) from Lyon and Poulenc Frères (Poulenc Brothers) from Paris founded by Étienne Poulenc, a 19th-century Parisian apothecary and brought to prominence by his second and third sons Émile, father of composer Francis Poulenc, and Camille Poulenc (1864–1942). Établissements Poulenc Frères had purchased May & Baker in 1922, the latter continuing to trade under its original name until 1990.

In 1950, the company synthesized chlorpromazine which it sold to Smith, Kline & French (today part of GlaxoSmithKline) who marketed the drug as Thorazine.[2] In 1986, Rhône-Poulenc acquired the German pharmaceutical A. Natterman & Cie GmbH.[3] In 1990, it merged with the pharmaceutical company Rorer to form Rhône-Poulenc Rorer.[4] In January 1999, Rhône-Poulenc merged with Hoechst AG to form Aventis. In 2004, Aventis went on to merge with Sanofi-Synthélabo forming Sanofi-Aventis, the third-largest pharmaceutical company in the world. In 2011, Sanofi-Aventis decided to drop the Aventis suffix and change its name to Sanofi.

The company was bought by Établissements Poulenc Frères (later to become Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc) in 1922, and subsequently moved to Dagenham, Essex, although it continued to trade under the May & Baker name.

In 1997, its chemicals division was spun off into a separate company named Rhodia and was later acquired by the Solvay group in 2011. The agricultural chemicals division of Rhône-Poulenc, known as Aventis CropScience after the merger with Hoechst, was sold to the German chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer in 2002.

In 1997 Rhône-Poulenc came to play a central part in what is claimed to be the worst environmental accident in Sweden's history. Rhône-Poulenc supplied Rhoca-Gil for the building of the Hallandsås tunnel. The chemical leaked into the artesian water, causing great damage to cattle, surrounding nature and workers at the construction site. Rhône-Poulenc was criticised for not pointing out the risks of using the sealant, which contained acrylamide and is considered to be carcinogenic. Criminal charges were brought against the company and In June 2001, the managing director of the former Rhône-Poulenc Sweden was found guilty of breaching the Chemical Products Act, and was to pay 60 day-fines at SEK650 for a total of SEK60,000.[5]

Rhône-Poulenc originally funded the Rhône-Poulenc Prizes, now known as the Royal Society Prizes for Science Books.

Literature

[edit]
  • Chauveau, Sophie. 1999. L'Invention pharmaceutique : la pharmacie française entre l'État et la société au XXe siècle. Le Plessis-Robinson: Sanofi-Synthélabo.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://dfih.fr/persons/51031 | DFIH — Data for Financial History | Person: Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer
  2. ^ Whitaker, Robert (2002). Mad in America. Perseus (Basic Books). p. 142. ISBN 978-0-465-02014-0.
  3. ^ "Rhone-poulenc drug strategy includes "Eventual" U.S. Expansion". Pharma Intelligence. 1987-03-09. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  4. ^ "Rhône Poulenc". Archived from the original on 2015-11-28. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  5. ^ Mårald (2007), p. 111-117 - See also printed sources
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