American Hoechst

American Hoechst was the primary United States subsidiary of the German life sciences and chemical conglomerate Hoechst AG. Established in 1953 and headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, the company served as a major bridge for European pharmaceutical and chemical innovations entering the American market. Through its pharmaceutical arm, Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals, the company commercialized several landmark therapies, including the widely used diuretic Lasix and the oral antidiabetic agent DiaBeta. In 1987, the company underwent a massive expansion by acquiring Celanese Corporation, leading to the formation of Hoechst Celanese. Following the global merger of Hoechst AG with Rhône-Poulenc in 1999 to create Aventis, the operations of American Hoechst were eventually absorbed into the modern Sanofi organization.