Rhône-Poulenc: Difference between revisions
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In 1997, the chemicals division of Rhône-Poulenc was spun off into a separate company named [[Rhodia (company)|Rhodia]]. 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, the chemicals division of Rhône-Poulenc was spun off into a separate company named [[Rhodia (company)|Rhodia]]. 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. |
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In 1997 Rhône-Poulenc got to play a central part in what is claimed to be the worst environmental accident in |
In 1997 Rhône-Poulenc got to play a central part in what is claimed to be the worst environmental accident in Sweden's history. Rhône-Poulenc supplied [[Rhoca-Gil]] to the building of the [[Hallandsas_Tunnel|Hallandsas tunnel]]. The chemical leaked out in to the groundwater causing great damage to both cattle, surrounding nature and workers at the site of construction. |
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Rhône-Poulenc was criticized for not pointing out the risks of using the sealant which contained [[Acrylamide]] and is considered to be cancerogenous. Criminal charges was 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. |
Rhône-Poulenc was criticized for not pointing out the risks of using the sealant which contained [[Acrylamide]] and is considered to be cancerogenous. Criminal charges was 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. |
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Revision as of 21:31, 21 March 2013
 | |
| Company type | merged with Hoechst AG |
|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Founder | Étienne Poulenc |
| Products | Chemicals and pharmaceuticals |
Rhône-Poulenc (French pronunciation: [ʁon pulɛ̃k]) was a French chemical and pharmaceutical company.
History of the company
The Company was 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 prominence by his second and third sons Emile and Camille Poulenc (1864–1942). In 1950, the company synthesized chlorpromazine which it sold to Smith, Kline & French (today part of GlaxoSmithKline) who marketed the drug as Thorazine.[1] 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.
In 1997, the chemicals division of Rhône-Poulenc was spun off into a separate company named Rhodia. 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 got to play a central part in what is claimed to be the worst environmental accident in Sweden's history. Rhône-Poulenc supplied Rhoca-Gil to the building of the Hallandsas tunnel. The chemical leaked out in to the groundwater causing great damage to both cattle, surrounding nature and workers at the site of construction. Rhône-Poulenc was criticized for not pointing out the risks of using the sealant which contained Acrylamide and is considered to be cancerogenous. Criminal charges was 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.
Rhône-Poulenc originally funded the Rhône-Poulenc Prizes, now known as the Royal Society Prizes for Science Books.
[1] Note:- Emile Poulenc was the father of the French composer Francis Poulenc.
Literature
- Chauveau, Sophie. 1999. L'invention pharmaceutique : la pharmacie française entre l'Etat et la société au XXe siècle. Le Plessis-Robinson: Sanofi-Synthélabo.
See also
Notes
- ^ Whitaker, Robert (2002). Mad in America. Perseus (Basic Books). p. 142. ISBN 978-0-465-02014-0.