History

Boehringer Ingelheim: A Tradition of Innovation

Boehringer Ingelheim was founded in Ingelheim am Rhein (Germany) in 1885, where the corporate headquarters are still located today. Trace our history as well as the development of our products and logo from the earliest days to the present.

1817: Our founder
Albert Boehringer was the grandson of Christian Friedrich Boehringer who had started the family´s chemical business in Stuttgart in 1817.

Albert BoehringerOur founder:
Albert Boehringer (1861 - 1939),
Counsellor of Commerce, in 1910
1885: First chemical factory in Ingelheim
In 1885, Albert set up his own chemical factory in Ingelheim near Mainz in the Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany). He initially employed around 20 people to manufacture tartaric acid salts used by pharmacies and dyeing works. Demand for his product surged in the early years as fizzy lemonade and baking powder became popular.
1895: Pioneer of large-scale "biotech" production
In 1895, Boehringer achieved a breakthrough discovery, that he could use bacteria to produce lactic acid in commercial quantities - becoming a pioneer of large-scale "biotech" production. This new process, combined with high demand for lactic acid in the leather, textile, dyeing and drinks/foodstuffs industries, resulted in the company becoming the leading manufacturer of this agent.

Boehringer´s company was already establishing a reputation for social enlightenment and for technologically innovative products.
1902: First health insurance scheme
The company´s first health insurance scheme is founded.
1905: Extracting alkaloides
The company extracts alkaloids from medicinal plants for the production of morphine and codeine, later also producing atropine and theobromine.
1909: Boehringer products appear in pharmacies
New machinery improves the alkaloid extraction process. Boehringer products appear in pharmacies and the emerging pharmaceutical industry.
1910: Introduction of annual holiday
Early WorkforceIntroduction of 14 days´ annual holiday entitlement and employee travel subsidies graduated according to years of service.
1912: Company pension available
Company pension made available to those employees with more than 20 years´ service.
1917: Co-operation with Nobel Prize winner
Co-operation with the later Nobel Prize winner, Professor Heinrich Wieland, and his brother, Professor Hermann Wieland begins. They were cousins of Helene Boehringer, the wife of Albert Boehringer, founder of Boehringer Ingelheim. This leads to the production of bile acid, the basis for manufacturing Perichol® and Cadechol® in the 1920s as medication for treating chronic cardiovascular diseases.
Today the Heinrich Wieland prize is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.
1923: Establishment of a second factory
French occupation of the Rhineland forces Albert Boehringer to move his business out of Ingelheim temporarily. This enables him to realise an ambition he has held for a number of years: the establishment of a second factory.
1924: Pharmaceutical Specialities group
The Pharmaceutical Specialities group is set up at Moorfleet in Hamburg. The site later becomes the headquarters for the company's first field force.
1925: New alkaloid plant
Production of opiates begins at a new alkaloid plant at Moorfleet.
1935: Manufacturing citric acid by fermentation
Boehringer Ingelheim develops a process for manufacturing citric acid by fermentation with fungi for commercial production.
1939: The second generation
By the time of Albert Boehringer´s death in 1939, the company he founded had grown to one employing 1,500 people. His two sons, Albert and Ernst Boehringer, and his son-in-law, Julius Liebrecht, took over the family business, having served on the company´s Board of Directors since the 1920s. Research and development continued throughout the Second World War but the production of organic acids was discontinued temporarily. A number of new agents were introduced during and after the war.

Dr Ernst Boehringer Julius Liebrecht Albert Boehringer Jnr.The second generation: (from left to right) Dr Ernst Boehringer, Julius Liebrecht, Albert Boehringer Jnr.
1946 - 1952: From citric to lactic acid production
Citric acid production resumed in 1946 and lactic acid production was restarted in 1952 to run for a further 20 years.
1955: Introduction of new and highly effective drugs
By 1955, the general economic boom that came with reconstruction had produced a fourfold increase in the company's workforce from that of 1939. New and highly effective drugs were introduced in the late fifties, forming the basis of the established pillars of Boehringer Ingelheim's research programmes: agents for the treatment of respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.
The importance of foreign markets for a chemical/pharmaceutical concern was recognised by the founder's second son, Dr Ernst Boehringer. A home-based subsidiary had already been established in 1946 when the Thomae production unit in Biberach an der Riss (Germany) was added to the Boehringer's two existing plants. Subsidiaries in Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France and Great Britain followed. Although expansion beyond Europe was via agencies initially, the company began to build up its own sites around the world and to make a number of acquisitions in both the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
1957: Foundation in Brazil
Boehringer Ingelheim Cia Ltda founded in Sao Paulo (Brazil).
1958: Establishment in Argentinia
C.H. Boehringer Sohn S.R.L. established in Buenos Aires (Argentina).
1961: A Japanese company is set up
A Japanese company is set up for new drug registrations and the provision of scientific information to medical staff.

Packaging Plant, Hino, JapanPackaging Plant, Hino, Japan
1965: Julius Liebrecht became Chairman of the Board
Following the deaths of Ernst and Albert Boehringer, Julius Liebrecht became Chairman of the Board in 1965.

Hubertus LiebrechtHubertus Liebrecht
1967: Hubertus Liebrecht and Dr Wilhelm Boehringer joined the Board
Hubertus Liebrecht, the son of, Julius Liebrecht, was appointed to the Board in 1967 and became its Chairman in 1971.

Dr Wilhelm Boehringer, son of Albert, also joined the Board in 1967 and was responsible for the Production and Engineering division, until his untimely death at the age of 44 in 1975.
1970: Research unit in Japan
Research unit set up in Kawanishi, near Osaka (Japan)
1971: USA subsidiary
USA subsidiary, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., founded in Ridgefield, Connecticut and developed as the corporation's North American research centre.
1972: Foundations in Venezuela and Canada
Venezuelan operating company, Boehringer Ingelheim CA, set up in Caracas.

Boehringer Ingelheim Canada Ltd founded in Montreal (moved to Burlington, Ontario in 1978)
1973: Starting with anti-microbial agents
Boehringer Ingelheim begins work on anti-microbial agents by chemically modifying macrolide and beta lactam antibiotics to increase potency, broaden spectrum of activity and overcome resistance. Side directed mutagenesis leads to new indolmycin derivatives.
1974: Beginning of screening programme
Screening programme begins to find new lead compounds from streptomyces strains. Boehringer Ingelheim's advanced fermentation processes give rise to several new antibiotics, including amiclenomycin, epidermin, gallidermin and gunacin.
1980: Modern era of biotechnology dawns
The modern era of biotechnology dawns, with the manufacture of therapeutically active proteins enabled and supported by genetic engineering. Again, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a pioneering role, producing interferon omega from mammalian cell culture and interferon gamma and manganese superoxide dismutase from microbial sources, as well as Namalwa interferon. Its growing reputation in this emergent field leads to high profile collaborations with leading edge US-based biotech companies; including Genentech, IDEC., NeoRx and ISIS.
1981: Take-over of Roxane Laboratories
Take-over of Roxane Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio (USA).
1982: Further subsidiaries in the Pacific region
Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co. Ltd. located at the Kawanishi site (Japan).

Packaging plant started up in Hino (Japan)

Further subsidiaries in the Pacific region have been founded in Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
1985: Institute for Molecular Pathology
Institute for Molecular Pathology (IMP) founded in Vienna (Austria) as a joint venture with Genentech, Inc. (USA).
1986: Germany´s first biotechnological production plant
Biotechnology Centre at Thomae in Biberach an der Riss (Germany) started operations as Germany´s first biotechnological production plant.
1987: First genetically engineered product
Introduction of the tissue plasminogen activator Actilyse® for treatment of stroke and heart attack - Boehringer Ingelheim's first genetically engineered product and the first result of the strategic collaboration with Genentech, Inc. (USA).
1991: New management structure
Following the death of Hubertus Liebrecht, Chairman and CEO, in 1991 a new management structure was created to meet the needs of the changing business environment. A Board of Managing Directors with Dr Heribert Johann as its Chairman was appointed, assuming responsibility for overall running of the corporation, while ultimate control remained with the Shareholders' Committee, representing the descendants of the founder.
1992: First Board of Managing Directors
A new management structure was established in 1992 to meet the needs of the fast-changing business environment.

A Board of Managing Directors was appointed, assuming responsibility for the overall management of the corporation, while ultimate control remained with the Shareholders´ Committee, representing the descendants of the founder.
1994: Our guiding principles
The fundamental guiding principles for our corporate behaviour are set out in our Leitbild which was formulated by the Shareholders, committing Boehringer Ingelheim to ambitious, long-term, entrepreneurial goals.

Our Corporate vision Value through Innovation was defined and cascaded through the organisation in the mid-1990s.

During 1994 - 2004, Vision & Leadership was the vehicle for implementing our corporate vision. Value through Innovation has now guided us for more than ten years and will continue to do so.

Lead & Learn is the current phase in our evolution in how we want to work together. It is about questioning and seizing opportunities, while fostering a culture of shared leadership and learning.

It outlines ways in which Boehringer Ingelheim realises and delivers Value through Innovation.
Today: Seizing opportunities
  • Boehringer Ingelheim has become one of the most successful non-domestic companies operating in the USA and Japan.
  • Our R&D has been transformed through pioneering new technologies, such as high throughput and ultra-high throughput screening.
  • Our Human Pharmaceuticals business was extended with the acquisition of the injectables manufacturer Ben Venue Laboratories (USA).
  • Our manufacturing structure has been transformed and the logistics chain overhauled.
  • New alliances have been formed with other leading companies, such as Genentech, Abbott Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Lilly and Company, Biolipox, AbGenomics and others.

A new management structure was established in 1992 to meet the needs of the fast-changing business environment. A Board of Managing Directors was appointed, assuming responsibility for the overall management of the corporation, while ultimate control remained with the Shareholders' Committee, representing the descendants of the founder.

Chairman of the Shareholders' Committee

Erich von Baumbach1992 - 2000
Erich von Baumbach, son-in-law of Albert Boehringer Jr, was Chairman of the Shareholders' Committee, representing the Boehringer and von Baumbach families, from 1992 until his retirement at the end of 2000.

Dr Heribert Johann2001 - 2006
Dr Heribert Johann was Chairman of the Shareholders' Committee, representing the Boehringer and von Baumbach families, from 2001 till 2006.

Christian Boehringer2007 - present
On 01 January 2007, Christian Boehringer was appointed Chairman of the Shareholders' Committee.

Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors

Prof. Rolf Krebs2001 - 2003
Prof. Rolf Krebs, formerly Vice-Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors, succeeded Dr Johann in 2001.

Dr Alessandro Banchi2004 - today
Since 01 January 2004 Dr Alessandro Banchi has been the Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors.

Products from the first 50 years
1912: Laudanon®
The analgesic Laudanon® appeared on the market.

1920: Cadechol®
The cardiovascular product Cadechol® is the first product derived from the Wielands´ work.

1921: Lobelin®
The respiratory stimulant Lobelin® secures Boehringer's position in the pharmaceutical market.

1922: Perichol®
Perichol®, a respiratory stimulant, is launched.

1923: Bilaval®
The bile product Bilaval® is launched.

1927: Codyl®
Codyl® is launched, an antitussive from the group of opioid derivatives.

1929: Acedicon®
Acedicon® is launched, also an antitussive from the group of opioid derivatives.

1930: Sympatol®
Sympatol®, a cardiovascular product, ranking among the pharmacological group of sympathomimetic drugs

Products from the 1940s and 1950s
1941: Aludrin®
Aludrin®, a highly innovative bronchodilator was the first beta-adrenergic stimulant in the world used for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

1949: Effortil®, Vasculat® and Visadron®,

Visadron® eyedropsEffortil® (an immediate-response cardiovascular agent), Vasculat® (a vasodilator), and Visadron® eye drops were launched.

1951: Persantin®
Persantin®, an antithrombotic drug used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases was developed in the Thomae laboratories in Biberach an der Riss (Germany).
Products from the 1965s and 1991
1961: Alupent®
Alupent® is a respiratory agent.

1963: Bisolvon®
Bisolvon® is a respiratory agent.

1972: Berotec® and Atrovent®
Berotec® is a respiratory agent.
The bronchodilator Atrovent® is now used mainly in the treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

1979: Mucosolvan®
Mucosolvan® is used as a mucolytic and expectorant.

1990: Alveofact® and Buscopan®
Alveofact® containing pulmonary surfactant is used in the treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in premature infants.
The spasmolytic agent, Buscopan®, was developed from the alkaloid scopolamine.

1966: Catapres® and Mexitil®
In the cardiovascular field, 1966 saw the launch of Catapres®, a centrally acting, anti-hypertensive drug showing a novel mode of action, closely followed by Mexitil®, an anti-arrhythmic drug in ventricular arrhythmias.

1977: Asasantin®
This year was marked by the launch of Asasantin® - an anti-thrombotic drug, combining the effects of Persantin® and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).
Our products since 1992
Boehringer Ingelheim has enjoyed sustained success, building on the foundations of a global business that was developed systematically and continuously over more than 120 years.

14 product launches in 15 years for Prescription Medicines products:

1994: Combivent®

1996: Alna®, Mobic® and Viramune®

1997: Sifrol®

1998: Aggrenox® and Micardis®

1999: Alesion®

2001: Metalyse®

2002: Spiriva®

2004: Cymbalta®/Xeristar®

2005: Aptivus® and Flomax®CR

2008: Pradaxa®

The corporate logo used today is derived from the central section of the Imperial Palace of Charlemagne. The King of the Franks, later crowned Emperor, stayed in Ingelheim during the latter part of the 8th century, probably around the year 774.

Corporate Logo 18931893
The first logo of Boehringer Ingelheim. The intertwined letters CHBS stand for C.H. Boehringer Sohn.

Corporate Logo 19081908
First version of the logo to incorporate the central section of the Imperial Palace.

Corporate Logo 19241924
The Company Logo as used until 1924.

Corporate Logo 19621962
First version of the logo to incorporate the central section of the Imperial Palace.

Corporate Logo todayToday
Boehringer Ingelheim´s logo reinterpreted for the 21st Century. This is the version, launched in 1997, which is still in use today.

You can download the Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate logo.
Please note that any use of the Boehringer Ingelheim logo without special permission from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH is prohibited. All rights are reserved.

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