Smith, Kline & French

Smith, Kline & French (SKF) was an American pharmaceutical company, known for its innovative contributions to the healthcare industry. It was founded in 1830 by Mahlon Kline and John K. Smith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company was later acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2000.

History

SKF was established in 1830 by Mahlon Kline and John K. Smith as a drugstore in Philadelphia. The company initially focused on the production of drugs and pharmaceuticals. In 1865, the company was incorporated as Smith, Kline & Co. and expanded its operations to include the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.

In 1891, the company merged with French, Richards & Co., becoming Smith, Kline & French. The company continued to grow and innovate, introducing products such as Thorazine (chlorpromazine), the first widely used antipsychotic, and Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine), a stimulant used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.

In 1989, Smith, Kline & French merged with Beecham Group, a British pharmaceutical company, to form SmithKline Beecham. The merger was one of the largest in the pharmaceutical industry at the time. In 2000, SmithKline Beecham merged with Glaxo Wellcome to form GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.

Contributions to Healthcare

Smith, Kline & French made significant contributions to the healthcare industry. The company was known for its innovative research and development. It introduced several groundbreaking drugs, including Thorazine and Dexedrine, which had a significant impact on the treatment of mental health disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), respectively.

Legacy

Today, the legacy of Smith, Kline & French lives on in GlaxoSmithKline. The company continues to be a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong commitment to research and development, and a broad portfolio of innovative medicines.

See Also

• GlaxoSmithKline
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Thorazine
• Dexedrine

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