Akorn history

By 1977, he was working at Invenex Laboratories, in charge of research and development for the pharmaceutical manufacturer, but was bored with his job.

In January 1988, Akorn acquired Spectrum Scientific Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for more than 187,000 shares of common stock.

Less than a year later, in September 1989, the company acquired Norbrook America, Inc. for one million shares of common stock.

In July 1990 the company acquired certain assets of Optometric Pharmaceuticals Inc. for some $355,000, merging the acquisition into subsidiary Spectrum Scientific Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

1991:Doctor John Kapoor becomes president of Akorn.

In July 1994, the company acquired the intraocular lens segment of Azusa, California-based Optical Radiation Corp.'s ophthalmic products division for 5.25 million shares of stock.

In July 1996, the company acquired the rights to distribute an injectable product line in the anesthesia/analgesia market from Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, for $1.6 million.

Acquisitions continued in April 1997, as the company agreed to purchase a number of products from Becton-Dickinson and Company.

Near the end of 1998, at the annual meeting of The American Academy of Ophthalmology, Akorn launched its corporate web site.

Akorn acquired rival Hi-Tech Pharmacal in 2013.

In April 2017, Akorn agreed to be acquired by Fresenius for $4.3 billion.