BASF: From dyes to drugs
For the historical chronology of drug discovery and the pharmaceutical industry, it is crucial to dedicate some attention to BASF. Founded in 1865 in Mannheim by Friedrich Engelhorn, a goldsmith turned gasworks operator, the company originated in the aniline dye business. Engelhorn realized that coal tar, a byproduct of gas lighting, could be used to manufacture synthetic dyes derived from anilines, and the company’s name reflected this focus: BASF stood for Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik, or “Baden Aniline and Soda Factory.” With chemists such as Heinrich Caro, BASF developed methylene blue in 1876. It was first used as a textile dye and soon recognized as the first chemically defined and patented drug. Its therapeutic applications began with malaria treatment and later included diagnostics, antiseptics, and use as the standard antidote for methemoglobinemia. BASF also pioneered the industrial synthesis of indigo in 1897, which enabled the mass production of blue jeans.
Although BASF no longer pursues drug discovery, through its Knoll division and partnerships, it contributed significantly to modern medicine. Essential products included propafenone (Rythmol), a class IC antiarrhythmic for cardiac arrhythmias; cefuroxime axetil (Zinnat, Ceftin), a widely used oral second-generation cephalosporin; cefotaxime (Claforan), a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic; and sevoflurane (Sevorane), a volatile anesthetic still in broad use. BASF also held regional rights to market Pfizer’s doxazosin in parts of Europe, an α1-blocker prescribed especially for benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension. Other notable contributions included its role in the development and commercialization of Synthroid (levothyroxine) and propofol, now among the most indispensable anesthetics worldwide.
Today BASF has shifted its focus toward fine chemicals, excipients, and APIs. Still, its early roots in dyes and later legacy in pharmaceuticals illustrate how industrial chemistry shaped the trajectory of modern drug discovery.
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