Warner Chilcott history

The company began as a division of the giant pharmaceutical concern Warner-Lambert Co., which formed a generic pharmaceutical business in 1987 under the name Warner Chilcott Laboratories.

In 1996, it was sold to Nale Laboratories P.L.C.

Having made a profit every year since its foundation, Galen became one of the darlings of the stock market following its flotation in London in July 1997, which valued it at some £182 million.

Pfeiferin, Sylvia, "Northern Ireland Drug Firm May Become First £1 Billion Company," Sunday Business, August 20, 2000.

PHARMACEUTICALS FIRM Warner Chilcott, formerly Galen, was established in Portadown, Co Armagh, in 1968. It was founded as a pharmaceutical product marketing business by former Glaxo executive Sir Allen McClay, who retired from the group in October 2001.

In late 2002, Eli Lilly & Co. announced it was selling Sarafem, the first product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat severe premenstrual syndrome.

In March 2003, Galen struck again, negotiating a deal with Pfizer Inc.

In August 2004, the company prevailed in a patent case by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries related to Sarafem Fluoxetine.

After bids and counterbids, the DLJ Merchant and J.P. Morgan consortium prevailed, paying $3.1 billion to acquire Warner Chilcott in January 2005.

In the IPO, 70.6 million shares were sold for $14.75 per share, raising slightly more than $1 billion—the second largest IPO in the United States in 2006, trailing only MasterCard's $2.4 billion public debut.

On October 30, 2009, the company acquired the prescription drug business of Procter & Gamble for $3.1 billion.

On October 1, 2013, the company was acquired by Actavis.