Zeneca
Encyclopedia
Zeneca Group PLC was a multinational
pharmaceutical company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Zeneca was formed in June 1993 by the demerger of the pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals businesses of Imperial Chemical Industries
into a separate company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
In 1999 Zeneca and the Sweden-based pharmaceutical company Astra AB
merged to form AstraZeneca plc
.
Zeneca's largest therapeutic area was oncology
, in which its key products included Casodex
, Nolvadex
and Zoladex
. Other key products included the heart drug Tenormin.
in May 1996. Zeneca exercised its right to acquire the 50 per cent of Salick Health Care that it did not already own in March 1997. In December 1997 Zeneca acquired the U.S. fungicide operations of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, together with the international distribution rights to four recently developed fungicides, herbicides and pest control products, for $500 million.
In May 1998 Zeneca announced that Tom McKillop
, then the head of its drugs division, would succeed Sir David Barnes as chief executive, with Barnes becoming non-executive chairman of the company. In November 1998 Zeneca announced that it was planning to sell its Zeneca Specialties division, including its biocides, industrial colours, lifescience molecules, performance and intermediate chemicals and resins activities. Zeneca and Astra AB
announced a £48 billion merger in December 1998. In February 1999 it was reported that Zeneca would be suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
in respect of its decision to allow Gensia Sicor to produce a generic version of its anaesthetic Diprivan
. The merger between Zeneca and Astra AB was completed in April 1999, forming AstraZeneca
plc.
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
pharmaceutical company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Zeneca was formed in June 1993 by the demerger of the pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals businesses of Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
into a separate company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
In 1999 Zeneca and the Sweden-based pharmaceutical company Astra AB
Astra AB
Astra AB was a former international pharmaceutical company headquartered in Södertälje, Sweden. Astra was formed in 1913 and merged with the British Zeneca Group in 1999 to form AstraZeneca. Product development was focused on therapeutics for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory...
merged to form AstraZeneca plc
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
.
Zeneca's largest therapeutic area was oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
, in which its key products included Casodex
Bicalutamide
Bicalutamide is an oral non-steroidal anti-androgen used in the treatment of prostate cancer and hirsutism...
, Nolvadex
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor in breast tissue via its active metabolite, hydroxytamoxifen. In other tissues such as the endometrium, it behaves as an agonist, hence tamoxifen may be characterized as a mixed agonist/antagonist...
and Zoladex
Goserelin
Goserelin acetate is an injectable gonadotropin releasing hormone superagonist , also known as a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist. Structurally, it is a decapeptide...
. Other key products included the heart drug Tenormin.
History
In December 1994 Zeneca agreed the acquisition of 50 per cent of Salick Health Care, an operator of cancer care centres in the United States, in a transaction which valued Salick at $440 million. Zeneca announced the sale of its textile colours business to the German group BASFBASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
in May 1996. Zeneca exercised its right to acquire the 50 per cent of Salick Health Care that it did not already own in March 1997. In December 1997 Zeneca acquired the U.S. fungicide operations of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, together with the international distribution rights to four recently developed fungicides, herbicides and pest control products, for $500 million.
In May 1998 Zeneca announced that Tom McKillop
Tom McKillop
Sir Thomas Fulton Wilson McKillop, born 19 March 1943, is a chemist, pharmaceutical company CEO and former chairman of RBS Group.McKillop was born in Dreghorn, a small village near the town of Irvine in Ayrshire, Scotland and educated at Irvine Royal Academy and then Glasgow University, where he...
, then the head of its drugs division, would succeed Sir David Barnes as chief executive, with Barnes becoming non-executive chairman of the company. In November 1998 Zeneca announced that it was planning to sell its Zeneca Specialties division, including its biocides, industrial colours, lifescience molecules, performance and intermediate chemicals and resins activities. Zeneca and Astra AB
Astra AB
Astra AB was a former international pharmaceutical company headquartered in Södertälje, Sweden. Astra was formed in 1913 and merged with the British Zeneca Group in 1999 to form AstraZeneca. Product development was focused on therapeutics for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory...
announced a £48 billion merger in December 1998. In February 1999 it was reported that Zeneca would be suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
in respect of its decision to allow Gensia Sicor to produce a generic version of its anaesthetic Diprivan
Propofol
Propofol is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically ventilated adults, and procedural sedation. Propofol is also commonly used in veterinary medicine...
. The merger between Zeneca and Astra AB was completed in April 1999, forming AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
plc.