What is now the oldest and most experienced contract manufacturer of lyophilized products in the United States had humble beginnings.

In 1938, the company was founded by R. Templeton Smith. Our first major product was estrogen, a hormone extracted from the urine and blood of pregnant mares.

Our next major product was freeze-dried human blood plasma, which was used to save lives by preventing shock and replenishing blood volume. During the Second World War, we developed techniques allowing us to produce sterile lyophilized plasma for the U.S. armed forces. Ben Venue became the first company to receive the coveted Army-Navy "E" Award for effort.

From 1943 to 1945, Ben Venue operated a penicillin production plant as part of a massive effort to bring penicillin within the economic reach of the world's population.

Soon after, we provided the original development work and initial production of the antibiotic Bacitracin.

In the 1950's and 60's Ben Venue evolved into a major contract developer and manufacturer of parenterals. In 1967, the National Cancer Institute awarded us the first of numerous development and manufacturing contracts for clinical dosages of anti-tumor agents, a relationship which continues to this day.

Today, more than 800 pharmaceutical products have been successfully produced by Ben Venue. Our customer list has grown to become a virtual who's who of the U.S. drug industry as well as many international firms.

In 1994, we created Bedford Laboratories, a separate division, dedicated to the marketing of a select line of specialty injectables, some difficult to obtain from other sources. Today, Bedford is one of the largest suppliers of injectable pharmaceuticals to the hospital market.

In December of 1997, Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, purchased Ben Venue.

Today, Ben Venue has the most experience among contract manufacturers to produce your clinical to commercial needs of liquid or lyophilized sterile products. Nine out of ten of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies have worked with Ben Venue.