Syntex Development Research

Syntex Development Research was the research and development division of Syntex Corporation, a pioneering pharmaceutical company renowned for its breakthroughs in steroid chemistry and the development of the first oral contraceptive. Based in Palo Alto, California, the organization was responsible for the discovery and development of major therapeutic products, including the anti-inflammatory Naprosyn (naproxen) and the analgesic Toradol (ketorolac). In 1994, the parent company was acquired by Roche for $5.3 billion, which subsequently transformed the research unit into Roche Bioscience. The Palo Alto site remained a key R&D hub for Roche until its closure in 2008 as part of a global restructuring of the company's research operations.