Searle is most notable for having developed the first female birth control pill,[2] and the artificial sweetener NutraSweet.

One notable alumnus of Searle is Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense for George W. Bush in the 2000s.

Prior to its 1985 merger with Monsanto, Searle was a company mainly focusing on life sciences, specifically pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and animal health.

[10] Control of this blockbuster drug was often mentioned as a key reason for Pfizer's acquisition of Pharmacia.

[11] The company manufactures prescription drugs and nuclear medicine imaging equipment.