Syntex
Syntex was a Mexican-founded pharmaceutical company that became a major developer and manufacturer of steroid medicines, including the progestin associated with the first oral contraceptive pills.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Syntex was a pharmaceutical company established in Mexico City in January 1944 as Laboratorios Syntex S.A. by Russell Marker, Emeric Somlo, and Federico Lehmann. Its name referred to synthesis and Mexico, reflecting the company’s original purpose: using Mexican plant materials to manufacture steroid-based medicines. The company initially focused on steroid intermediates derived from diosgenin, a phytosteroid found in Mexican yams, especially cabeza de negro (Dioscorea mexicana) and barbasco (Dioscorea composita). Syntex’s demand for barbasco helped create and expand a Mexican trade in the plant, linking pharmaceutical innovation with a new agricultural and resource-extraction economy. The company’s early development was shaped by both scientific opportunity and internal conflict. Russell Marker brought important knowledge of steroid synthesis to Syntex, but left in 1945 after becoming dissatisfied with the company’s treatment of his financial interests. Because Marker had personally carried out much of the synthesis work and had coded the reagent bottles, his departure temporarily disrupted production. George Rosenkranz then joined the company and became a central figure in its scientific and managerial development. Carl Djerassi joined in 1949, and Luis E. Miramontes became a researcher at Syntex in 1950. Under the direction of Djerassi and Rosenkranz, Miramontes carried out the final step in the first synthesis of norethisterone, also known as norethindrone, on October 15, 1951. Norethisterone was a highly active orally effective progestin. Its development became one of Syntex’s defining achievements and contributed directly to the emergence of the oral contraceptive pill. Syntex’s compound was submitted for biological testing in the United States and was found to be exceptionally active for its time. Although G.D. Searle obtained marketing approval for a related compound before Syntex secured approval for its own patent, products based on Syntex’s norethindrone were eventually marketed by multiple companies. By 1964, Syntex, Searle, and Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Pharmaceutical operation were marketing contraceptive products involving the compound or its closely related chemistry. Syntex also advanced the commercial production of other steroid medicines. Work by Rosenkranz and Djerassi helped establish more economical routes to cortisone from diosgenin than the earlier route developed by Merck using bile acids. The company recruited researchers with expertise in steroid chemistry, chromatography, biochemistry, and botany. Alejandro Zaffaroni joined in 1951 and later rose to lead Syntex’s United States subsidiary, while Albert Bowers became one of the company’s major research and executive leaders. In 1959, Syntex moved its operating headquarters to Palo Alto, California, and evolved into a transnational pharmaceutical corporation. Research, administration, and marketing were conducted from California; bulk steroid intermediates continued to be manufactured in Mexico; and finished medicines were produced at facilities in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. The company was incorporated in Panama during this period. Its Palo Alto presence connected it with the Stanford Research Park and the expanding biotechnology and pharmaceutical research community in the region. Syntex later faced regulatory and reputational problems. Its submission of a fraudulent toxicology analysis concerning naproxen contributed to the United States Food and Drug Administration’s discovery in 1976 of extensive scientific misconduct at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories. The company has also been associated in reporting by animal-protection organizations with the export of equine chorionic gonadotropin produced in South America under allegedly abusive conditions involving laboratory mares. Roche agreed to acquire Syntex in May 1994. Following completion of the acquisition, Roche reduced Syntex’s research and development operations in the Stanford Research…
History
Syntex began in Mexico City in January 1944 as Laboratorios Syntex S.A. Its founders were Russell Marker, Emeric Somlo, and Federico Lehmann. The company’s early business was based on steroid chemistry and on the availability of diosgenin-rich Mexican yams. Marker had developed methods for transforming plant-derived steroid materials into commercially useful pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly progesterone-related compounds. Syntex’s operations helped turn barbasco, a Mexican yam, into an important industrial raw material and initiated a substantial commercial barbasco trade. Marker left the company in 1945 after a dispute concerning his financial participation. His departure caused an operational crisis because he had performed much of the synthesis work himself and had encoded the contents of reagent containers. George Rosenkranz joined Syntex that year and helped rebuild its scientific base. Carl Djerassi joined in 1949 as associate director of chemical research, and Luis E. Miramontes joined from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1950. Working under Djerassi and Rosenkranz, Miramontes completed the final step of the first synthesis of norethisterone, or norethindrone, on October 15, 1951. Norethisterone was the first highly orally active progestin and became a foundational compound in the development of oral contraception. Syntex submitted a patent application in November 1951 and sent the compound for biological assessment in the United States, where it was found to have unusually strong oral progestational activity. G.D. Searle later patented a related isomer, noretynodrel, and obtained marketing approval before Syntex received approval for its own product. Because noretynodrel is converted to norethisterone under acidic conditions such as those in the stomach, the two patent positions became central to the early commercial history of the pill. By 1964, Syntex, Searle, and Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Pharmaceutical brand were marketing contraceptive products based on the relevant steroid chemistry. Syntex’s scientific program extended beyond contraception. Rosenkranz and Djerassi developed a more economical route to cortisone from diosgenin than the earlier Merck process based on bile acids. The company also recruited scientists in chromatography, biochemistry, steroid pharmacology, and plant science. Alejandro Zaffaroni joined in 1951, developed methods for identifying and separating steroids using paper chromatography, became a vice president in 1956, and was appointed president of Syntex’s U.S. subsidiary in 1962. Albert Bowers joined in 1956, led steroid research, and later became president, chief executive officer, and chairman. Ralph Dorfman served as president of Syntex Research from 1967 to 1973. In 1959, Syntex moved its operating headquarters to Palo Alto, California. Its international organization separated major functions across several jurisdictions: administration, research, and marketing were based in Palo Alto; bulk steroid intermediates continued to be made in Mexico; and finished drugs were manufactured in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. The move was partly associated with frustration among foreign scientists over Mexican administrative delays involving work permits and imported pharmaceutical materials. Syntex was incorporated in Panama during this transnational phase. The company’s history also includes regulatory controversy. In 1976, Syntex submitted a fraudulent toxicology analysis for naproxen to the FDA. The episode contributed to the regulator’s exposure of extensive scientific misconduct at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories. Separate animal-welfare investigations have alleged that Syntex was involved in exporting equine chorionic gonadotropin made in South America under abusive conditions affecting laboratory mares. Roche agreed to acquire Syntex in May 1994. After the acquisition, Roche reduced the company’s research and development facilities in the Stanford Research Park and ultimately closed the remaining Syntex operation in September 2008. The former Palo Alto campus later became occupied by VMware. Syntex is consequently a defunct pharmaceutical company whose historical importance rests on steroid manufacturing, the commercialization of plant-derived pharmaceutical chemistry, and the synthesis of norethisterone, a key compound in the history of oral contraception.
- 2008
Remaining Syntex operations close
[1]Roche shuts down what remains of Syntex after downsizing its Palo Alto research and development facilities.
- 1994
Roche agrees to acquire Syntex
[1]Syntex agrees to join the Roche group in a major pharmaceutical acquisition.
- 1976
Naproxen toxicology controversy contributes to FDA investigation
[1]A fraudulent toxicology analysis submitted for naproxen becomes part of the FDA's discovery of misconduct at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories.
- 1964
Multiple companies market Syntex-related contraceptive chemistry
[1]Syntex, G.D. Searle, and Ortho Pharmaceutical are marketing contraceptive products involving norethisterone or closely related compounds.
- 1962
Zaffaroni leads the U.S. subsidiary
[1]Alejandro Zaffaroni is appointed president of Syntex's United States subsidiary in Palo Alto.
- 1959
Operating headquarters moves to Palo Alto
[1]Syntex relocates its operating headquarters to California and develops a multinational corporate structure.
- 1956
Alejandro Zaffaroni becomes a vice president
[1]Zaffaroni advances into senior management after developing steroid-identification and separation procedures.
- 1951
First synthesis of norethisterone
[1]Luis E. Miramontes completes the final step in the first synthesis of norethisterone under the direction of Djerassi and George Rosenkranz.
- 1951
Norethisterone patent application is submitted
[1]Syntex files a patent application for its orally active progestin compound in November.
- 1949
Carl Djerassi joins Syntex
[1]Djerassi becomes associate director of chemical research and helps expand Syntex's steroid research program.
Products and positioning
A research-driven pharmaceutical company historically positioned around steroid chemistry, plant-derived pharmaceutical raw materials, hormonal medicines, and large-scale international manufacturing.
Oral progestin · 1951
Norethisterone (norethindrone)
Norethisterone was Syntex's most historically consequential compound. Synthesized at Syntex in 1951, it was among the first highly orally active progestins and became a key chemical foundation for oral hormonal contraception. Syntex submitted a patent application in 1951, and products based on the compound were later marketed by several pharmaceutical companies. Its development established Syntex as a major center of steroid and reproductive-hormone research.
Pharmaceutical raw materials · 1944
Steroid intermediates from diosgenin
Syntex built its original manufacturing base around steroid intermediates derived from diosgenin in Mexican yams. These materials could be transformed into progesterone-related compounds and other therapeutic steroids. The business made barbasco and related plant resources commercially important and supported the company's later international manufacturing network.
Corticosteroid medicines and intermediates
Cortisone-related steroids
Syntex researchers developed a more economical synthesis of cortisone from diosgenin than the earlier Merck route based on bile acids. The work illustrated the company's broader strategy of using plant-derived steroid chemistry to lower the cost and improve the scalability of important hormonal and anti-inflammatory medicines.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Naproxen
Naproxen was associated with Syntex's regulatory history because the company submitted a toxicology analysis for the medicine that was later identified as fraudulent. The episode helped expose wider scientific misconduct at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories during the FDA's investigation.
Reproductive hormone
Equine chorionic gonadotropin
Syntex has been identified by animal-protection organizations as involved in exporting equine chorionic gonadotropin produced at South American bloodstock operations. Investigators alleged that the production system involved serious animal-welfare abuses, including live abortions, beatings, and inadequate veterinary care.
Controversies
1976
Fraudulent naproxen toxicology analysis
Syntex submitted a fraudulent toxicology analysis concerning naproxen. The matter contributed to the FDA's exposure of extensive scientific misconduct at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories.
Alleged animal cruelty in equine hormone production
Animal-protection organizations have alleged that Syntex was involved in exporting equine chorionic gonadotropin produced in South America under conditions involving cruelty to laboratory mares, including live abortions, beatings, and insufficient veterinary care.
Brand decisions
2008
Closure of remaining Syntex operationsStrategyBackground
Following Roche's acquisition and downsizing of the former company's research facilities, the Syntex organization no longer operated as an independent business.
Action taken
Roche shut down what remained of Syntex in September 2008.
Aftermath
Syntex ceased operating as a pharmaceutical company; the former Palo Alto campus was later occupied by VMware.
1994
Acquisition by RocheM&ABackground
Syntex had developed into an international pharmaceutical company with significant steroid and hormonal research capabilities.
Action taken
Syntex agreed to be acquired by the Roche group in May 1994.
Aftermath
Roche subsequently reduced Syntex's Palo Alto research operations and closed the remaining Syntex business in 2008.
1959
Relocation of operating headquarters to Palo AltoStrategyBackground
Syntex's foreign scientists reportedly faced bureaucratic delays in Mexico involving work visas and imports of pharmaceutical materials.
Action taken
The company moved its operating headquarters to Palo Alto while retaining bulk steroid-intermediate manufacturing in Mexico and distributing other manufacturing functions across Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.
Aftermath
Syntex became a transnational corporation with research, administration, and marketing centered in California.
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