King Pharmaceuticals

King Pharmaceuticals was a pharmaceutical company based in the United States. It was founded in 1993 and was headquartered in Bristol, Tennessee. The company specialized in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded prescription pharmaceutical products.

History

King Pharmaceuticals was established by John M. Gregory and his family. The company grew rapidly through a series of acquisitions, including the purchase of the pharmaceutical division of Jones Pharma in 2000 and the acquisition of Elan Corporation's primary care business in 2004. In 2010, King Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Pfizer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

Products

King Pharmaceuticals developed and marketed a variety of pharmaceutical products, primarily focusing on pain management, cardiovascular disease, and hospital products. Some of their notable products included:

• Skelaxin (metaxalone) - a muscle relaxant
• Thrombin-JMI (thrombin) - a topical hemostatic agent
• Avinza (morphine sulfate) - an extended-release opioid analgesic

Acquisition by Pfizer

In October 2010, Pfizer announced its intention to acquire King Pharmaceuticals for $3.6 billion. The acquisition was completed in February 2011, and King Pharmaceuticals became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfizer. This acquisition allowed Pfizer to expand its portfolio of pain management and hospital products.

Legacy

Although King Pharmaceuticals no longer exists as an independent entity, its products and innovations continue to be part of Pfizer's extensive pharmaceutical offerings. The company's legacy includes its contributions to pain management and its role in the consolidation of the pharmaceutical industry.

Related Pages

• Pfizer
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Pain management
• Opioid analgesic
• Muscle relaxant