Share this site A little history of a big company
The history of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) traces back to 1858 with the founding of Squibb Corporation by Dr. Edward Robinson Squibb. The company’s first roots in Canada were established more than 80 years ago with the incorporation of E.R. Squibb and Sons in 1925. It expanded its activities in 1989 through the merger with Bristol-Myers Company and in 2001 with the acquisition of DuPont Pharmaceuticals.
1858
Dr. Edward Robinson Squibb (1819-1900), an American Navy physician, founds Squibb Corporation in New York and develops the first reliable ether for anaesthesia.
1887
Bristol-Myers is founded in 1887 when William McLaren Bristol and John Ripley Myers buy the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company in New York State. They built it into a successful company by developing a series of innovative products including Bufferin, the first of the buffered aspirins.
1895
Dr. Edward Robinson Squibb retires and passes most of the responsibility for managing the firm to his sons, Charles and Edward. Squibb Corporation is known for decades afterwards as E. R. Squibb and Sons.
1903
From 1903 to 1905, Bristol-Myers Company's sales grow tenfold. The runaway success of this period is Ipana toothpaste, the first toothpaste to include disinfectant in its formula and thus help prevent bleeding gums. Another important product is Sal Hepatica, the company's first nationally recognized product: a laxative mineral salt which, when dissolved in water, reproduced the taste and effects of the natural mineral waters of Bohemia. These products bring this regional company to national and international prominence.
1938
The Squibb Institute for Medical Research is established in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The institute makes great advances for the pharmaceutical world, especially regarding antibiotics.
1943
With the acquisition of Cheplin Laboratories, a New York manufacturer of acidophilus milk, Bristol-Myers Company again becomes a producer of pharmaceutical products. Cheplin, which has expertise in fermentation techniques, becomes a key supplier of penicillin for the Allied armed forces.
1944
The Squibb Institute for Medical Research opens the largest penicillin production plant in the world in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
1961
E.R. Squibb & Sons markets the world’s first electronic toothbrush. Most future automatic toothbrushes are essentially imitations of the original Squibb model invented by Professor Philippe G. Woog.
1975
Squibb researchers create CAPOTEN® (captopril); the first in a new class of high blood pressure agents called ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors.
1989
Bristol-Myers Company merges with the Squibb Corporation, creating Bristol-Myers Squibb, a world leader in the healthcare industry. The merger creates what was then the world's second-largest pharmaceutical company.
1990
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute is established with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, and research facilities in Wallingford, Connecticut, as well as other sites around the world.
1993
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company joins Sterling Winthrop Inc. and their partner Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc. in a joint venture partnership for the development and marketing of two promising compounds, Plavix® and Avapro/Avalide®.
1998
President Bill Clinton awards the National Medal of Technology – America’s highest honour for technological innovation – to Bristol-Myers Squibb “for extending and enhancing human life through innovative pharmaceutical research and development, and for redefining the science of clinical study through groundbreaking and hugely complex clinical trials that are recognized models in the industry.”
1999
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announces SECURE THE FUTURE™, a $100-million commitment to advance HIV/AIDS research and community outreach programs in five southern African countries: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. Grants fund a variety of laboratory and research projects as well as clinical programs and many community-driven initiatives such as orphan care, home care, counseling and other services.
2000
A new strategy is launched to sharpen the company’s focus on medicine and an aggressive external development program. This includes divestiture of its Clairol Inc. and Zimmer Inc. businesses.
2001
Bristol-Myers Squibb is named “America’s Most Admired Pharmaceutical Company” by FORTUNE Magazine.
2001
BMS offers HIV/AIDS drugs below cost in Africa and commits an additional $15 million – thus raising the total level of commitment to $115 million – to extend SECURE THE FUTURE™ to four Western African countries, and ensures that its patent rights to HIV/AIDS medicines do not impede access to the drugs in southern Africa.
2007
Bristol-Myers Squibb announces new strategy to transform itself from a midcap pharmaceutical company to a next-generation BioPharma company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines to fight serious diseases. The company acquires Adnexus Therapeutics, developer of a new class of biologics called Adnectins™, including a Phase I oncology biologic, CT-322.
2008
Bristol-Myers Squibb purchases Kosan Biosciences, a cancer therapeutics company based in California, and enters into collaborations with two California companies, PDL Biopharma and Exelixis, to develop promising new cancer therapies.
2009
Bristol-Myers Squibb enters into global collaborations with ZymoGenetics,Teijin Pharma Limited and Alder Biopharmaceuticals for the development of new treatments for hepatitis C, cardiac arrhythmia and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively.
2009
Bristol-Myers Squibb acquires the biotech company Medarex to significantly expand its pipeline in oncology and immunology.
2010
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Allergan, Inc. announce a global agreement for the development and commercialization of an oral medication for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
1925
The company’s first roots are established in Canada with the incorporation of E.R. Squibb & Sons of Canada Limited, with headquarters in Toronto.
1952
Construction starts on new Canadian manufacturing plant and headquarters of E.R. Squibb & Sons of Canada Limited in Ville St-Laurent, Quebec, where the company remains located for the next 57 years.
2001
With the acquisition of DuPont, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company adds to its HIV portfolio an antiretroviral agent launched in Canada in 1999, Sustiva® (efavirenz) Capsules, and also gains Cardiolite® (kit for the preparation of Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi for Injection), a medical imaging agent available on the Canadian market since 1990.
2004
Reyataz® (atazanavir sulfate), the first protease inhibitor for the treatment of HIV/AIDS with once-a day dosing, is launched in Canada in January.
2005
Health Canada approves the colorectal cancer treatment ERBITUX® (cetuximab), co-developed with ImClone Systems Incorporated.
2006
Health Canada approves Orencia™ (abatacept) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as well as Baraclude® (entecavir) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection.
2007
Health Canada approves Sprycel™ (dasatinib) for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, and Atripla®, the first once-daily single tablet regimen to treat HIV infection, combining three separate medications.
2009
Health Canada approves Abilify® (aripiprazole) for the treatment of schizophrenia, and Onglyza™ (saxagliptin) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
2009
The headquarters of Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada moves to its current facilities in the Technoparc of Ville St-Laurent, Quebec.
