S.B. Penick and Company

S.B. Penick and Company was a prominent American pharmaceutical and chemical firm, once recognized as the world's largest supplier of botanical drugs. Founded in 1914 by Sydnor Barksdale Penick, the company specialized in the collection, processing, and distribution of medicinal plants, alkaloids, and rare botanicals. Over the decades, it expanded its portfolio to include the production of antibiotics, fine chemicals, and pesticides, serving as a critical supplier to the global pharmaceutical industry. The company operated major manufacturing facilities in New Jersey and was a pioneer in the commercialization of tyrothricin, the first antibiotic used in clinical practice. In 1968, the company was acquired by CPC International, and its business units were eventually integrated into other chemical and pharmaceutical entities.