McNeil Laboratories

McNeil Consumer Healthcare is a pharmaceutical company belonging to the Johnson & Johnson healthcare products group.
The company was founded on March 16, 1879 by 23-year-old Robert McNeil, who paid $167 for a drugstore complete with fixtures, inventory and soda fountain, as a retail pharmacy, in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, PA, USA. Robert McNeil was a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (University of the Sciences in Philadelphia).
In 1904, one of McNeil's son's, Robert Lincoln McNeil, became part of the company and together they created McNeil Laboratories in 1933. The company would focus on direct marketing of prescription drugs to hospitals, pharmacists, and doctors. Development of acetaminophen began under the leadership of Robert L. McNeil, Jr., who later served as the firm's chairman. In 1953 McNeil Laboratories introduced Algoson, a preparation containing acetaminophen together with sodium butabarbital, a sedative. In 1955, McNeil Laboratories introduced Tylenol Elixir for children, containing only acetaminophen.
In 1959, Johnson & Johnson acquired McNeil Laboratories and a year later the company was able to sell Tylenol for the first time ever, without a prescription. In 1961 the company moved into its Fort Washington, Pennsylvania headquarters. Along with its Fort Washington plant, McNeil also has plants worldwide.
In 1977, two companies were created: McNeil Pharmaceutical and McNeil Consumer Products Company or McNeil Consumer Healthcare.
The current president of McNeil Consumer Healthcare is Peter Luther.




McNeil Pharmaceutical


The focus of McNeil Pharmaceutical is to market prescription drugs. In 1993 McNeil Pharmaceutical merged with the Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation to form Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical




McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals


In 2001 McNeil Consumer Healthcare changed its name to McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals. However, it was changed again and is now known as "McNeil Consumer Healthcare". The company markets over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals including complete lines of Tylenol and Motrin IB (ibuprofen) products for adults and children. The company is located in Fort Washington, PA, and currently employs 2,600 people. Annual sales in 2004 were US $2.1 billion. McNeil's Canadian head office is in Markham, Ontario.




Johnson & Johnson Merck Joint Venture


Known as the "JV," this 50/50 joint venture between Johnson & Johnson and Merck handles the OTC product lines Pepcid, Mylanta, and Mylicon and is located at the McNeil Consumer Healthcare headquarters in Fort Washington, PA.




2010 Product Recall


Main article: 2010 Johnson & Johnson children's product recall
In April 2010 McNeil Consumer Healthcare recalled 43 over-the-counter children's medicines. Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl products were affected.