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Beecham Group

October 14, 2023

The Beecham Group plc was a British pharmaceutical company. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Beecham, after having merged with American pharmaceutical company SmithKline Beckman to become SmithKline Beecham, merged with Glaxo Wellcome to become GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). GSK (and later, Haleon) still uses the Beechams brand name in the UK for its over-the-counter cold and flu relief products.[1]

The Beecham Group plc
Beecham's Clock Tower built in 1877; the building still stands in St Helens, Merseyside, today serving as the College Administrative centre.
IndustryPharmaceuticals
Founded1859
Defunct1989
FateMerged with SmithKline Beckman
SuccessorSmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline)
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
ProductsPhenethicillin, Methicillin
ParentGlaxoSmithKline

Early history Edit

Beecham began as the family business of Thomas Beecham (1820–1907), a chemist. (Beecham would become the grandfather of music conductor Thomas Beecham, 1879–1961.) As a boy, Beecham worked as a shepherd, selling herbal remedies as a sideline.

He later became a travelling salesman or peddler full time. His first product was Beecham's Pills, a laxative, in 1842.[2] Subsequent success enabled him to open a shop in Wigan in 1847.[3] Beecham opened its first factory in 1849, in St Helens, Lancashire, for the rapid production of medicines.[2] Under his son, Sir Joseph Beecham, 1st Baronet (1848–1916), the business expanded, but remained a patent medicine company and engaged in little research.

Expansion and diversification Edit

In 1924, Philip Ernest Hill (1873 - 1944),[4][5] who made his money in real estate, acquired control of Beecham.[6] Under his leadership, the company bought up other companies for their various products and for their marketing infrastructure, acquiring the Lucozade glucose drink and Macleans (toothpaste) in 1938, and, at the same time, introducing the Ribena blackcurrant drink.[7] In 1938, it also bought the company selling Eno which had an extensive international presence.[6][8]: 253  By purchasing the company manufacturing Brylcreem the following year, the company added hair products for men to its offerings.[2]

In 1943, Beecham decided to focus more on improving research and built Beecham Research Laboratories at Brockham Park, Surrey. In 1945, the company was renamed Beecham Group Ltd.[2] in 1953, Beecham acquired C.L. Bencard, which specialised in allergy vaccines.[2]

Antibiotics Edit

In 1959, Brockham Park became famous when Beecham scientists there discovered the penicillin nucleus, 6-APA (6-aminopenicillanic acid);[9] This discovery allowed Beecham, working in tandem with Bristol-Myers, to synthesize a number of new semisynthetic penicillins. Beecham marketed Broxil (phenethicillin), followed shortly by the more potent Celbenin (methicillin), which was active against Staphylococcus aureus. The group continued to focus on pharmaceutical development, producing further semi-synthetic penicillins. However, when Penbritin (ampicillin) came on the market in 1961, Beecham's facilities were soon inadequate for the worldwide demand for the drug. A 35-acre (140,000 m2) complex at Worthing came on line in the early 1960s, to produce phenethicillin, followed by the ability to produce 6-APA, the base for semisynthetic penicillins.

The company continued to add products, and acquire other companies, through the 1970s and 1980s. In 1971, the S. E. Massengill Company was acquired. Beecham launched Amoxil (amoxicillin) in 1972, which went on to become one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics.[2]

In 1973, Aqua-fresh toothpaste was launched, and in 1977, the Sucrets brand was acquired. Augmentin, an antibiotic used to treat an array of bacterial infections, was introduced in 1981.[2] The Aqua Velva and Geritol brands were acquired from J. B. Williams in 1982.

Later history Edit

In 1986, the Beecham Group sold its numerous soft drink brands including Tango, Top Deck, Corona, and Quosh, as well as the UK franchises for Pepsi and 7 Up, to Britvic.[10] The same year, Beecham acquired Norcliff Thayer from Revlon.

As the turn of the century approached, there were more significant mergers. In 1989, The Beecham Group plc and SmithKline Beckman merged to form SmithKline Beecham plc.[2][11] In 2000, SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoWellcome merged to form GlaxoSmithKline.[12]

A history of the company, Beechams, 1848–2000: From Pills to Pharmaceuticals, written by Thomas Anthony Buchanan Corley, was published in 2011.

Products Edit

Consumer healthcare Edit

Pharmaceuticals Edit

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ "Get powerful relief from cold & flu symptoms with Beechams". beechams.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Our history – GSK". Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ^ Thomas Beecham at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  4. ^ https://letslookagain.com/2017/11/beecham/
  5. ^ https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/philip-e-hill?memorial_id=8963
  6. ^ a b Tedlow, Richard S.; Jones, Geoffrey G. (2014). The Rise and Fall of Mass Marketing (RLE Marketing) Volume 25 of Routledge Library Editions: Marketing. Routledge. pp. 110–111. ISBN 9781317663010.
  7. ^ "SmithKline Beecham: History" 20 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine, History of Advertising Trust
  8. ^ Wilkins, Mira (2004). The history of foreign investment in the United States, 1914-1945. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674045187.
  9. ^ Batchelor, F.R.; Doyle, F. P.; Naylor, J. H. C.; Rolinson, G. N. (1959). "Synthesis of Penicillin: 6-Aminopenicillanic Acid in Penicillin Fermentations" (PDF). Nature. 183 (4656): 257–8. Bibcode:1959Natur.183..257B. doi:10.1038/183257b0. PMID 13622762. S2CID 4268993.
  10. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  11. ^ "Profile: SmithKline Beecham". BBC. 18 December 2000.
  12. ^ "The Glaxo SmithKline merger". BBC News. 17 January 2000.
  13. ^ "Beechams Powders - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)". Medicines.org. Retrieved 19 November 2016. Beecham's Powders is a cold and flu remedy sold in the UK. The medicine is a white powder wrapped in a paper sachet. The powder is mixed with water and then drunk in suspension. The active ingredients are caffeine and aspirin, the effects of taking this remedy are the lowering of body temperature, reduction in aches and pains, along with a mild return of energy. This medicine is often used by people who need to continue working despite having a cold or mild flu.

External links Edit

October 14, 2023
beecham, group, british, pharmaceutical, company, once, constituent, ftse, index, beecham, after, having, merged, with, american, pharmaceutical, company, smithkline, beckman, become, smithkline, beecham, merged, with, glaxo, wellcome, become, glaxosmithkline,. The Beecham Group plc was a British pharmaceutical company It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index Beecham after having merged with American pharmaceutical company SmithKline Beckman to become SmithKline Beecham merged with Glaxo Wellcome to become GlaxoSmithKline GSK GSK and later Haleon still uses the Beechams brand name in the UK for its over the counter cold and flu relief products 1 The Beecham Group plcBeecham s Clock Tower built in 1877 the building still stands in St Helens Merseyside today serving as the College Administrative centre IndustryPharmaceuticalsFounded1859Defunct1989FateMerged with SmithKline BeckmanSuccessorSmithKline Beecham now GlaxoSmithKline HeadquartersLondon United KingdomProductsPhenethicillin MethicillinParentGlaxoSmithKline Contents 1 Early history 2 Expansion and diversification 3 Antibiotics 4 Later history 5 Products 5 1 Consumer healthcare 5 2 Pharmaceuticals 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly history EditBeecham began as the family business of Thomas Beecham 1820 1907 a chemist Beecham would become the grandfather of music conductor Thomas Beecham 1879 1961 As a boy Beecham worked as a shepherd selling herbal remedies as a sideline He later became a travelling salesman or peddler full time His first product was Beecham s Pills a laxative in 1842 2 Subsequent success enabled him to open a shop in Wigan in 1847 3 Beecham opened its first factory in 1849 in St Helens Lancashire for the rapid production of medicines 2 Under his son Sir Joseph Beecham 1st Baronet 1848 1916 the business expanded but remained a patent medicine company and engaged in little research Expansion and diversification EditIn 1924 Philip Ernest Hill 1873 1944 4 5 who made his money in real estate acquired control of Beecham 6 Under his leadership the company bought up other companies for their various products and for their marketing infrastructure acquiring the Lucozade glucose drink and Macleans toothpaste in 1938 and at the same time introducing the Ribena blackcurrant drink 7 In 1938 it also bought the company selling Eno which had an extensive international presence 6 8 253 By purchasing the company manufacturing Brylcreem the following year the company added hair products for men to its offerings 2 In 1943 Beecham decided to focus more on improving research and built Beecham Research Laboratories at Brockham Park Surrey In 1945 the company was renamed Beecham Group Ltd 2 in 1953 Beecham acquired C L Bencard which specialised in allergy vaccines 2 Antibiotics EditIn 1959 Brockham Park became famous when Beecham scientists there discovered the penicillin nucleus 6 APA 6 aminopenicillanic acid 9 This discovery allowed Beecham working in tandem with Bristol Myers to synthesize a number of new semisynthetic penicillins Beecham marketed Broxil phenethicillin followed shortly by the more potent Celbenin methicillin which was active against Staphylococcus aureus The group continued to focus on pharmaceutical development producing further semi synthetic penicillins However when Penbritin ampicillin came on the market in 1961 Beecham s facilities were soon inadequate for the worldwide demand for the drug A 35 acre 140 000 m2 complex at Worthing came on line in the early 1960s to produce phenethicillin followed by the ability to produce 6 APA the base for semisynthetic penicillins The company continued to add products and acquire other companies through the 1970s and 1980s In 1971 the S E Massengill Company was acquired Beecham launched Amoxil amoxicillin in 1972 which went on to become one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics 2 In 1973 Aqua fresh toothpaste was launched and in 1977 the Sucrets brand was acquired Augmentin an antibiotic used to treat an array of bacterial infections was introduced in 1981 2 The Aqua Velva and Geritol brands were acquired from J B Williams in 1982 Later history EditIn 1986 the Beecham Group sold its numerous soft drink brands including Tango Top Deck Corona and Quosh as well as the UK franchises for Pepsi and 7 Up to Britvic 10 The same year Beecham acquired Norcliff Thayer from Revlon As the turn of the century approached there were more significant mergers In 1989 The Beecham Group plc and SmithKline Beckman merged to form SmithKline Beecham plc 2 11 In 2000 SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoWellcome merged to form GlaxoSmithKline 12 A history of the company Beechams 1848 2000 From Pills to Pharmaceuticals written by Thomas Anthony Buchanan Corley was published in 2011 Products EditConsumer healthcare Edit Aquafresh Beecham s Pills Beecham s Powders 13 Brylcreem Eno Horlicks Lucozade Ribena Vosene Macleans Pharmaceuticals Edit Amoxil amoxicillin Augmentin co amoxiclav Avandia rosiglitazone Bactroban mupirocin Broxil pheneticillin Celbenin meticillin clavulanic acid Eminase anistreplase Engerix B hepatitis B vaccine Floxapen flucloxacillin granisetron Havrix hepatitis A vaccine Orbenin cloxacillin Paxil paroxetine Penbritin ampicillin Pollinex extract of ragweed pollen Pyopen carbenicillin Relifex nabumetone Temopen temocillin Ticarpen ticarcillin Timentin ticarcillin clavulanate See also EditPharmaceutical industry in the United KingdomReferences Edit Get powerful relief from cold amp flu symptoms with Beechams beechams co uk Retrieved 7 May 2012 a b c d e f g h Our history GSK Retrieved 19 November 2016 Thomas Beecham at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography https letslookagain com 2017 11 beecham https www londonremembers com subjects philip e hill memorial id 8963 a b Tedlow Richard S Jones Geoffrey G 2014 The Rise and Fall of Mass Marketing RLE Marketing Volume 25 of Routledge Library Editions Marketing Routledge pp 110 111 ISBN 9781317663010 SmithKline Beecham History Archived 20 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine History of Advertising Trust Wilkins Mira 2004 The history of foreign investment in the United States 1914 1945 Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press ISBN 9780674045187 Batchelor F R Doyle F P Naylor J H C Rolinson G N 1959 Synthesis of Penicillin 6 Aminopenicillanic Acid in Penicillin Fermentations PDF Nature 183 4656 257 8 Bibcode 1959Natur 183 257B doi 10 1038 183257b0 PMID 13622762 S2CID 4268993 Carbonated drinks a report on the supply by manufacturers of carbonated drinks in the United Kingdom Chapter 8 para 8 51 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 29 July 2008 Retrieved 24 July 2008 Profile SmithKline Beecham BBC 18 December 2000 The Glaxo SmithKline merger BBC News 17 January 2000 Beechams Powders Summary of Product Characteristics SPC Medicines org Retrieved 19 November 2016 Beecham s Powders is a cold and flu remedy sold in the UK The medicine is a white powder wrapped in a paper sachet The powder is mixed with water and then drunk in suspension The active ingredients are caffeine and aspirin the effects of taking this remedy are the lowering of body temperature reduction in aches and pains along with a mild return of energy This medicine is often used by people who need to continue working despite having a cold or mild flu External links EditDocuments and clippings about Beecham Group in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beecham Group amp oldid 1171118340, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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