COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 325413

In-vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

32companies1887–1995founding years28still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedJohnson & JohnsonFoundedJohnson & Johnson
1887
FoundedGeneral Electric CompanyFoundedPerrigo Company
1892
FoundedAbbott LaboratoriesFoundedPfizer Inc.
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedOrion Oyj
1917
FoundedPLIVA d.d.
1921
FoundedTakeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
1925
FoundedMerck & Co., Inc.FoundedMerck & Co., Inc.
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedSigma-Aldrich Corporation
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedChiron Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAmersham PLC
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCytyc Corporation
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedInvitrogen Corporation
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedInverness Medical Innovations, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedCaliper Life Sciences, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Johnson & Johnson →
Active · founded 1887
One of America's most admired companies, Johnson & Johnson (J & J) is one of the largest healthcare firms in the world…
Johnson & Johnson →
Active · founded 1887
One of America's most admired companies, Johnson & Johnson (J & J) is one of the largest healthcare firms in the world…
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
Perrigo Company →
Active · founded 1892
1920s:Perrigo begins offering private label products.
Perrigo Company →
Active · founded 1892
1920s:Perrigo begins offering private label products.
Abbott Laboratories →
Active · founded 1900
Abbott Laboratories is one of the oldest and most successful pharmaceutical companies in the United States.
Abbott Laboratories →
Active · founded 1900
Abbott Laboratories is one of the oldest and most successful pharmaceutical companies in the United States.
Pfizer Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1870s:Dr.
Pfizer Inc. →
Active · founded 1900
1870s:Dr.
Orion Oyj →
Active · founded 1917 · Finland
Orion Oyj is one Finland's leading pharmaceutical companies, marketing some 250 products in Finland and claiming about…
Orion Oyj →
Active · founded 1917 · Finland
Orion Oyj is one Finland's leading pharmaceutical companies, marketing some 250 products in Finland and claiming about…
PLIVA d.d. →
Active · founded 1921 · Croatia
PLIVA d.d.
PLIVA d.d. →
Active · founded 1921 · Croatia
PLIVA d.d.
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Merck & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
1940s:Merck's laboratories make a series of discoveries: vitamin B12, cortisone, streptomycin.
Merck & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
1940s:Merck's laboratories make a series of discoveries: vitamin B12, cortisone, streptomycin.
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1975
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation is a developer, manufacturer, and distributor of a wide range of biochemicals, organic…
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1975
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation is a developer, manufacturer, and distributor of a wide range of biochemicals, organic…
Chiron Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Chiron Corporation is a leading biotechnology company focusing on cancer, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular…
Chiron Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Chiron Corporation is a leading biotechnology company focusing on cancer, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular…
Amersham PLC →
Active · founded 1982 · United Kingdom
Initially known as Amersham International PLC, Amersham PLC was formed in 1997 through the merger of Amersham…
Amersham PLC →
Active · founded 1982 · United Kingdom
Initially known as Amersham International PLC, Amersham PLC was formed in 1997 through the merger of Amersham…
Cytyc Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
Cytyc Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative products that focus primarily on women's…
Cytyc Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
Cytyc Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative products that focus primarily on women's…
Invitrogen Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1989
Invitrogen Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets more than 10,000 products for customers involved in life…
Invitrogen Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1989
Invitrogen Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets more than 10,000 products for customers involved in life…
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc.
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc.
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.
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