A Brief History of the Tylenol Brand

Tylenol is an over-the-counter pain-relieving drug that helps reduce pain and fever, while also relieving cold, flu, and cough symptoms. We see Tylenol products in most of our homes in America and it has become a well-trusted medicine worldwide. In 1976, it became the “#1 branded over-the-counter analgesic in the U.S.”, according to their company website, and still dominates the pain killer market today with a 35% share.

A pharmaceutical drug product company called, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, owns the Tylenol brand. The McNeil Company can be traced as far back as 1879 when the founder, Robert McNeil, opened a drugstore in Philadelphia, PA. It was a family shop mainly serving as a pharmacy store to the community. The direction of the company soon changed, as Robert’s son, Robert Lincoln McNeil, had different plans when he became manager of the drugstore. He wanted to focus the company on actually producing prescription drugs and marketing them to pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors. In 1933 he incorporated the company as McNeil Laboratories.

Tylenol first appeared as a prescribed medicine in 1955 as a children’s pain reliever. Four-years later, the well-known pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson acquired McNeil Laboratories. A year after that, they were able to sell Tylenol products over the counter and introduced America to the product they will soon fall in love with. It wasn't until 1961 that McNeil Company expanded the product’s options by launching the adult over-the-counter Tylenol product.     

When the company reached its biggest milestone in 1976, becoming the #1 medicine brand in the US, it became clear the amount of trust and contentment the American population had on the Tylenol product and brand. It is still a proud brand of American society and in 1982, the company was at brink of jeopardizing this reputation and their successful history.

The way the company went about dealing with the Tylenol Tampering Case of 1982, had a lasting effect on their brand recognition.  They knew the company image was at stake after the seven Chicago murders were traced back to a Tylenol product. They had to react, and they had to do it fast. The steps they took to gain back the consumer’s trust were well planned out and executed. The changes that were made during this case have affected the pharmaceutical industry till this date and McNeil became an example to other companies.