Armour Laboratories

Armour Laboratories (later known as Armour Pharmaceutical Company) was the pharmaceutical division of the major American meatpacking firm Armour and Company. Founded in Chicago in the late 19th century, the company pioneered organotherapeutic agents by utilizing slaughterhouse byproducts such as animal glands and membranes. Notable historical products included Armour Thyroid (desiccated pig thyroid for hypothyroidism), ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone for rheumatoid arthritis and infantile spasms), and bovine/human albumin for treating shock during World War II. Following a series of acquisitions starting with Greyhound Corporation in 1970, Revlon in 1978, and Rorer in 1985, its remaining plasma-derived assets eventually became part of CSL Behring, while the Armour Thyroid brand was acquired by Forest Laboratories.