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Zeneca

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Zeneca Group PLC
Company typePublic limited company
IndustryPharmaceutical
Founded1993
Defunct1999;25 years ago(1999)
FateMerged withAstra AB
SuccessorAstraZeneca
HeadquartersLondon, UK
ProductsPharmaceutical products

Zeneca(officiallyZeneca Group PLC) was a Britishmultinationalpharmaceuticalcompany headquartered inLondon,United Kingdom.It was formed in June 1993 by thedemergerof the pharmaceuticals andagrochemicalsbusinesses ofImperial Chemical Industriesinto a separate company listed on theLondon Stock Exchange.[1]

In 1999, Zeneca and theSweden-based pharmaceutical companyAstra ABmerged to formAstraZeneca plc.[2][3]

Zeneca's largest therapeutic area wasoncology,in which its key products includedCasodex,NolvadexandZoladex.[4]Other key products included heart drugTenormin.[5]

Name

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"Zeneca" was an invented name created by the branding consultancy Interbrand.[6]Interbrand had been instructed to find a name which began with a letter from either the top or bottom of the Alpha bet and was phonetically memorable, of no more than three syllables and did not have an offensive meaning in any language.[6]

History

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In December 1994, Zeneca agreed the acquisition of 50% of Salick Health Care, an operator of cancer care centres in theUnited States,in a transaction which valued Salick at US$440 million.[7]Zeneca announced the sale of its textile colours business to theGermangroupBASFin May 1996.[8]Zeneca announced it would purchase the remaining 50% of Salick Health Care that it did not already own on 28 March 28 1997.[9]In December 1997, Zeneca acquired the US fungicide operations of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, along with the international distribution rights to four recently developed fungicides, herbicides and pest control products, for US$500 million.[10][11]

In May 1998, Zeneca announced thatTom McKillop,then the head of its drugs division, would succeedSir David Barnesas chief executive, with Barnes becoming non-executive chairman of the company.[12]In November 1998, Zeneca announced that it would sell its Zeneca Specialties division, including its biocides, industrial colours, life science molecules, performance and intermediate chemicals and resins activities.[13]On 11 December 1998, Zeneca andAstra ABannounced a £48 billion merger.[14]In February 1999, it was reported that Zeneca would sue the USFood and Drug Administrationover its decision to allow Gensia Sicor to produce a generic version of itsanaestheticDiprivan.[15]The merger between Zeneca and Astra AB was completed in April 1999, formingAstraZeneca plc.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Timetable for Zeneca demerger spelled out".The Independent.26 February 1993.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  2. ^"Zeneca and Astra merge to form drug giant".BBC News. 9 December 1998.Retrieved5 July2011.
  3. ^"Corporate Profile: The arranged marriage".The Independent.24 February 1999.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  4. ^"Pound batters drug giant".BBC News. 6 August 1998.Retrieved5 July2011.
  5. ^"Zeneca profits up 42% in first year after demerger: Volume and price growth, but conditions remain tough".The Independent.4 March 1994.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  6. ^ab"The name game".The Telegraph.14 January 2001.Retrieved25 May2012.
  7. ^"Zeneca to Extend Its Reach into Cancer Care Services".The New York Times.23 December 1994.Retrieved5 July2011.
  8. ^"Zeneca sells loss-making dye business for pounds 150m".The Independent.9 May 1996.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  9. ^"Zeneca to Buy Rest of Salick Health Care".The New York Times.28 March 1997.Retrieved6 July2011.
  10. ^"Zeneca buys pounds 300m fungicide business from Japanese rival".The Independent.18 December 1997.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  11. ^"Zeneca Group Buys U.S. Fungicide Business".The New York Times.18 December 1997.Retrieved5 July2011.
  12. ^"Drugs chief appointed new head of Zeneca".The Independent.23 May 1998.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  13. ^"Zeneca mulls specialities sale".BBC News. 12 November 1998.Retrieved5 July2011.
  14. ^"Has Zeneca chosen wisely?".The Independent.11 December 1998.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  15. ^"Zeneca to sue US drug monitor".The Independent.9 February 1999.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved5 July2011.
  16. ^"The Lowdown: McKillop gives his opponents the treatment".The Independent.21 September 2003.Retrieved5 July2011.[dead link]
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