Lewis-Howe

Lewis-Howe Company was a prominent pharmaceutical manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri, best known for developing and commercializing the antacid brand Tums. Established in the late 19th century, the company achieved global recognition after pharmacist James Howe invented the calcium carbonate-based tablet in 1928. The firm specialized in over-the-counter digestive health solutions and maintained a major manufacturing presence in downtown St. Louis for nearly a century. In 1978, Lewis-Howe was acquired by Revlon for approximately $82 million, ending its tenure as an independent family-run business. Through subsequent corporate mergers, the company's assets and the Tums brand eventually became part of SmithKline Beecham and later GSK.