Rhône-Poulenc

In 1950, the company synthesized chlorpromazine which it sold to Smith, Kline & French (today part of GlaxoSmithKline) who marketed the drug as Thorazine.

The company was bought by Établissements Poulenc Frères (later to become Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc) in 1922, and subsequently moved to Dagenham, Essex, although it continued to trade under the May & Baker name.

In 1997 Rhône-Poulenc came to play a central part in what is claimed to be the worst environmental accident in Sweden's history.

The chemical leaked into the artesian water, causing great damage to cattle, surrounding nature and workers at the construction site.

Criminal charges were brought against the company and In June 2001, the managing director of the former Rhône-Poulenc Sweden was found guilty of breaching the Chemical Products Act, and was to pay 60 day-fines at SEK650 for a total of SEK60,000.

Founder's stock certificate of the Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc for 100 francs, issued on 5 September 1928 in Paris, with the signature of Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer as Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Founder's stock certificate of the Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc for 100 francs, issued on 5 September 1928 in Paris, with the signature of Hippolyte-Eugène Boyer [ 1 ] as Chairman of the Supervisory Board