Ortho Pharmaceutical was initially formed in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

in 1931 as a

subsidiary A subsidiary, subsidiary company or daughter company is a company owned or controlled by another company, which is called the parent company or holding company. Two or more subsidiaries that either belong to the same parent company or having a s ...

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company i ...

to market the first prescription spermicidal contraceptive jelly, ''Ortho-Gynol''.

History

In the 1940s, Ortho introduced the coil-spring

diaphragm Diaphragm may refer to: Anatomy * Thoracic diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle between the thorax and the abdomen * Pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor, a pelvic structure * Urogenital diaphragm or triangular ligament, a pelvic structure Other * Diap ...

, and assisted in the development of the

Papanicolaou smear The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE), cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in ...

stain to

screen Screen or Screens may refer to: Arts * Screen printing (also called ''silkscreening''), a method of printing * Big screen, a nickname associated with the motion picture industry * Split screen (filmmaking), a film composition paradigm in which mul ...

for

cervical cancer Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal ...

. In 1963, Ortho introduced the second

oral contraceptive Oral contraceptives, abbreviated OCPs, also known as birth control pills, are medications taken by mouth for the purpose of birth control. Female Two types of female oral contraceptive pill, taken once per day, are widely available: * The combin ...

available in the United States (''Ortho-Novum 10'' and ''Ortho-Novum 2'', produced by

Syntex Laboratorios Syntex SA (later Syntex Laboratories, Inc.) was a pharmaceutical company formed in Mexico City in January 1944 by Russell Marker, Emeric Somlo, and Federico Lehmann to manufacture therapeutic steroids from the Mexican yams called ''cabe ...

).
In 1964, Ortho bought rights to and marketed the ''Gynekoil'' (Margulies Coil) and ''Lippes Loop'' inert plastic

IUDs An intrauterine device (IUD), also known as intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD or ICD) or coil, is a small, often T-shaped birth control device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. IUDs are one form of long-acting revers ...

in the United States until the mid-1970s and 1985, respectively.
In 1968, Ortho introduced '' RhoGAM Rho(D) immune globulin'', the first medication developed to prevent Rh

hemolytic disease of the newborn Hemolytic disease of the newborn, also known as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, HDN, HDFN, or erythroblastosis foetalis, is an alloimmune condition that develops in a fetus at or around birth, when the IgG molecules (one of the five ...

. In 1973, Ortho and Syntex introduced the first

progestogen only pill Progestogen-only pills or progestin-only pills (POP) are contraceptive pills that contain only synthetic progestogens ( progestins) and do not contain estrogen. They are colloquially known as mini pills. Although such pills are sometimes called ...

s (mini-pills) available in the United States, ''Mirconor'' and ''Nor-QD''. In 1982, Ortho introduced the first

biphasic Biphasic, meaning having two phases, may refer to: * Phase (matter), in the physical sciences, a biphasic system, e.g. one involving liquid water and steam * Biphasic sleep, a nap or siesta in addition to the usual sleep episode at night * Phase ...

oral contraceptive available in the United States, ''Ortho-Novum 10/11''.
In 1984, Ortho introduced the first triphasic oral contraceptive available in the United States, ''Ortho-Novum 7/7/7''.
In 1989, the

FDA The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food s ...

approved ''Ortho Cyclen'' containing the first new

progestin A progestogen, also referred to as a progestagen, gestagen, or gestogen, is a type of medication which produces effects similar to those of the natural product, natural female sex hormone progesterone in the body. A progestin is a ''synthetic co ...

(

norgestimate Norgestimate, sold under the brand names Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Previfem among others, is a progestin medication which is used in birth control pills for women and in menopausal hormone therapy. The medication is available in combination with an ...

) approved in over 20 years in the United States. In 1992, Ortho introduced ''Ortho Tri-Cyclen'' in the United States, which in 1996 became the first oral contraceptive with an FDA-approved non-contraceptive indication (treatment of moderate

acne Acne, also known as ''acne vulgaris'', is a long-term Cutaneous condition, skin condition that occurs when Keratinocyte, dead skin cells and Sebum, oil from the skin clog hair follicles. Typical features of the condition include comedo, black ...

).
From 1995 to 2003, Ortho marketed the ''

ParaGard Intrauterine device (IUD) with copper, also known as intrauterine coil or copper coil, is a type of intrauterine device which contains copper. It is used for birth control and emergency contraception within five days of unprotected sex. It is one ...

'' copper T-380A IUD in the United States. In 2001, Ortho introduced the ''Ortho Evra''

transdermal Transdermal is a route of administration wherein active ingredients are delivered across the skin for systemic distribution. Examples include transdermal patches used for medicine delivery. The drug is administered in the form of a patch or ointme ...

contraceptive patch A contraceptive patch, also known as "the patch", is a transdermal patch applied to the skin that releases synthetic oestrogen and progestogen hormones to prevent pregnancy. They have been shown to be as effective as the combined oral contrac ...

in the United States. In 1993, Ortho Pharmaceutical merged with McNeil Pharmaceutical in 1993 to form

Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical The company was formed from the merger of Ortho Pharmaceutical and McNeil Pharmaceutical in 1993. Both of these pharmaceutical companies are pioneers and leaders in areas such as pain management, acid reflux disease, and infectious diseases. Or ...

. In

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, Ortho Products began operations in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

in 1941. The company started with one product and three employees and it was one of the first companies in Canada to make oral contraceptives. Moving to

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

in 1944, the company outgrew a number of rented facilities until its own facilities were constructed in 1955. Continued growth required a number of plant expansions. Ortho Pharmaceutical Canada merged with McNeil Pharmaceutical Canada in 1991, and merged with

Janssen Pharmaceutica Janssen Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Beerse, Belgium, and wholly-owned by Johnson & Johnson. It was founded in 1953 by Paul Janssen. In 1961, Janssen Pharmaceuticals was purchased by New Jersey-based American c ...

Canada in 1995 to form Janssen-Ortho.

References

* * *

External links

Ortho-McNeil_Pharmaceutical
{{Pharmaceutical companies of the United States Pharmaceutical companies based in New Jersey Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries Defunct pharmaceutical companies of the United States Pharmaceutical companies disestablished in 1993

History

See also

References

External links