Syntex Laboratories

Syntex was a pioneering pharmaceutical company that played a pivotal role in the development of the first oral contraceptive pill. Originally founded in Mexico City before relocating its headquarters to Palo Alto, California, the company became a global leader in steroid chemistry and hormone-based therapies. Syntex is also widely recognized for developing the blockbuster nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) naproxen, marketed under the brand names Naprosyn and Aleve. The company's research environment in Silicon Valley helped foster the region's burgeoning biotechnology industry and produced several notable spin-offs. In 1994, Syntex was acquired by Roche for $5.3 billion, and its operations were subsequently integrated into the Roche Group.