The company was founded in the late 1880s by Henry K. Mulford after his purchase of the Old Simes drugstore at 18th and Market Streets.
Soon after purchasing the Old Simes retail pharmacy store, Mulford began producing and selling pharmaceutical preparations.
[1] The company augmented its scientific research with staff and partnerships from the University of Pennsylvania's medical and veterinary departments.
The company property was surrounded by pastures for horses and cows which were needed to produce serum and antitoxins.
The company also grew gardens of plants for research and products, including acres of the purple foxglove flower for the heart medicine digitalis.