Forest Laboratories
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFormer American pharmaceutical company known for licensing, developing, and marketing prescription medicines, including Celexa, Lexapro, Namenda, and Linzess.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Forest Laboratories was an American pharmaceutical company incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1956 by Hans Lowey as a small laboratory-services business, it developed into a prescription-drug company with a business model that combined licensing products from European pharmaceutical companies, obtaining U.S. regulatory approval, and commercializing medicines in the American market. This approach enabled Forest to build a substantial product portfolio without relying solely on internally discovered compounds. The company became publicly traded through an initial public offering in 1967. A major change in its corporate direction occurred in 1977, when Howard Solomon became chief executive officer. Under Solomon, Forest expanded its commercial and licensing activities and became particularly associated with central-nervous-system medicines. Its best-known products included Celexa, an antidepressant based on citalopram, and Lexapro, an updated escitalopram formulation developed with Lundbeck. The two products became important products in the U.S. antidepressant market. Forest also marketed medicines in cardiovascular care, respiratory disease, gastroenterology, endocrinology, infectious disease, pain management, addiction treatment, and neurology. Forest's portfolio included both products originating from partners and products developed or commercialized through collaborations. Examples included Bystolic for hypertension, Daliresp and Tudorza Pressair for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Linzess for constipation-related gastrointestinal disorders, Namenda and Namenda XR for Alzheimer's disease, Savella for fibromyalgia, Viibryd and Fetzima for depression, and Teflaro for certain bacterial infections. It also marketed established or specialty products such as Armour Thyroid, Levothroid, Monurol, and Sudocrem in relevant markets. The company's history also included regulatory and legal difficulties. In the 1980s, Forest acquired O'Neal Jones & Feldman after a federal investigation connected to the recall of one of its drugs. In 2010, it pleaded guilty to criminal charges and agreed to pay $313 million to resolve allegations involving obstruction of justice and the illegal distribution and promotion of medicines. The matter included allegations that Celexa and Lexapro had been promoted for unapproved pediatric depression uses and that Levothroid had been distributed as an unapproved drug. Whistleblowers contributed to the case and received part of the settlement. Forest was also criticized over transfer-pricing arrangements that moved profits offshore, and it later faced allegations concerning efforts to delay generic competition for Namenda. Forest ended its independent existence after a period of strategic pressure and shareholder activism. Howard Solomon retired as chief executive in 2013. In February 2014, Forest acquired Aptalis for approximately $2.9 billion, adding products and specialty-pharmaceutical capabilities. Later that year, after pressure from major shareholder Carl Icahn, Actavis acquired Forest Laboratories. The transaction closed on July 1, 2014, and Forest became part of Actavis's broader pharmaceutical operations. Actavis subsequently became associated with Allergan, which was later acquired by AbbVie. Forest Laboratories is therefore no longer an independent operating company, although several of its medicines and commercial assets continued within successor organizations.
History
Forest Laboratories began in 1956, when Hans Lowey founded it as a small laboratory-services company. Its early operations differed from the large, research-intensive pharmaceutical model with which the company later became associated. Forest eventually concentrated on prescription medicines and on bringing licensed products to the U.S. market, particularly medicines originating with European pharmaceutical developers. The company entered the public markets in 1967 through an initial public offering. Howard Solomon became chief executive in 1977 and led the business through its expansion into a broader branded-prescription portfolio. Forest's commercial strategy emphasized regulatory approval, medical marketing, partnerships, and lifecycle management. Rather than depending exclusively on original discovery, it frequently worked with outside developers and licensed products for American commercialization. A regulatory setback occurred in the 1980s after a federal investigation connected to the recall of one of Forest's drugs. In 1984, the company acquired O'Neal Jones & Feldman for $8.8 million. Forest later achieved a major commercial and regulatory milestone with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of Celexa, or citalopram, on July 17, 1998. Celexa had been developed by Lundbeck. In 2000, Forest ended its relationship with Warner-Lambert for marketing Celexa after Warner-Lambert was acquired by Pfizer. On August 16, 2002, the FDA approved Lexapro, or escitalopram, an updated medicine developed in cooperation with Lundbeck. Lexapro became one of Forest's most recognizable products and strengthened the company's position in antidepressants. During the following years, Forest broadened its portfolio beyond psychiatry. Its products and partnered products covered Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal disorders, fibromyalgia, thyroid conditions, urinary-tract infections, bacterial infections, pain, alcohol dependence, and women's health. The company encountered significant legal and regulatory problems in 2010. It agreed to pay $313 million and pleaded guilty to charges connected with illegal pharmaceutical promotion and distribution, as well as obstruction-related conduct. The case included allegations involving promotion of Celexa and Lexapro for unapproved pediatric depression uses and distribution of Levothroid in violation of federal drug law. Whistleblowers assisted the case and received compensation from the settlement. Forest was also criticized for transfer-pricing arrangements that shifted profits offshore, although the criticism concerned arrangements described as legal. Howard Solomon retired as chief executive in 2013. Forest then pursued further expansion through acquisition, buying Aptalis in February 2014 for approximately $2.9 billion. The transaction added specialty medicines and broadened the company's commercial base. However, shareholder pressure, including pressure attributed to Carl Icahn, contributed to the company's decision to accept a takeover. Actavis acquired Forest Laboratories on July 1, 2014. Forest consequently ceased to operate as an independent company. Actavis later became part of the corporate lineage associated with Allergan and AbbVie, while Forest's products and assets were integrated into successor pharmaceutical operations.
- 2014
Aptalis acquisition
[1]Forest acquired Aptalis for approximately $2.9 billion.
- 2014
Acquisition by Actavis
[1]Actavis completed its acquisition of Forest Laboratories on July 1, 2014.
- 2013
Howard Solomon retires as chief executive
[1]Howard Solomon retired from the chief executive position.
- 2010
Federal pharmaceutical-promotion settlement
[1]Forest pleaded guilty and agreed to a $313 million resolution concerning illegal promotion, distribution, and obstruction-related allegations.
- 2002
FDA approval of Lexapro
[1]The FDA approved Lexapro, an escitalopram product developed with Lundbeck and positioned as an updated successor to Celexa.
- 2000
Warner-Lambert marketing relationship ends
[1]Forest ended its marketing relationship with Warner-Lambert after Pfizer acquired Warner-Lambert.
- 1998
FDA approval of Celexa
[1]The FDA approved Celexa, the company's citalopram antidepressant developed by Lundbeck.
- 1984
Acquisition of O'Neal Jones & Feldman
[1]Forest acquired O'Neal Jones & Feldman for $8.8 million following a federal investigation associated with a drug recall.
- 1977
Howard Solomon becomes chief executive
[1]Howard Solomon assumed the chief executive role and subsequently oversaw the company's expansion into branded prescription medicines.
- 1967
Initial public offering
[1]Forest Laboratories became a public company through an initial public offering.
Products and positioning
A U.S.-focused prescription-pharmaceutical company built around licensing and commercializing medicines, particularly products from European partners, alongside selected development and specialty-pharmaceutical activities.
Antidepressant · 1998
Celexa
Celexa is the Forest-marketed brand for citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used in the treatment of depression. Developed by Lundbeck, it received U.S. FDA approval in 1998 and became one of Forest Laboratories' central commercial products.
Antidepressant · 2002
Lexapro
Lexapro is the brand name for escitalopram, an antidepressant developed in cooperation with Lundbeck. Approved in the United States in 2002, it was presented as an updated version of the active component associated with Celexa and was also used for generalized anxiety disorder.
Alzheimer's disease medicine
Namenda and Namenda XR
Namenda and Namenda XR are memantine products used for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease. They represented Forest's important neurology franchise and later became central to allegations concerning strategies intended to delay generic competition.
Gastrointestinal medicine
Linzess
Linzess is a linaclotide product used for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation. It illustrates Forest's expansion beyond central-nervous-system medicines into gastroenterology and chronic digestive disorders.
Cardiovascular medicine
Bystolic
Bystolic is a nebivolol medicine marketed for hypertension. It formed part of Forest's cardiovascular portfolio alongside products such as Tiazac for hypertension and chronic stable angina.
Respiratory medicines
Daliresp and Tudorza Pressair
Daliresp, containing roflumilast, was marketed to reduce exacerbations associated with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Tudorza Pressair, containing aclidinium bromide, was an inhaled COPD treatment. Together they represented Forest's respiratory-disease activities.
Antidepressant
Viibryd
Viibryd is the brand name for vilazodone, an antidepressant marketed by Forest Laboratories. It extended the company's presence in the psychiatric-medicine market beyond its earlier Celexa and Lexapro franchises.
Antidepressant
Fetzima
Fetzima is the brand name for extended-release levomilnacipran, an antidepressant included in Forest's later psychiatric portfolio.
Fibromyalgia medicine
Savella
Savella is a milnacipran product marketed for fibromyalgia. It reflected Forest's participation in specialty conditions outside its core antidepressant franchise.
Anti-infective medicine
Teflaro
Teflaro is the brand name for ceftaroline fosamil, an antibiotic used for certain acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia caused by susceptible organisms.
Thyroid medicines
Armour Thyroid and Levothroid
Armour Thyroid and Levothroid were thyroid-related products marketed for hypothyroidism and, in relevant circumstances, suppression of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone. Levothroid was specifically involved in the 2010 illegal-distribution allegations.
Controversies
2010
Illegal promotion and distribution settlement
Forest pleaded guilty to criminal charges and agreed to pay $313 million to resolve allegations involving illegal promotion of Celexa and Lexapro for unapproved pediatric depression uses, distribution of unapproved Levothroid, and obstruction-related conduct. Whistleblowers helped expose aspects of the conduct and received compensation from the settlement.
2010
Transfer-pricing criticism
Forest was criticized for transfer-pricing arrangements that legally moved some profits offshore and reduced the amount of profit recognized in the United States.
1984
Drug recall and federal investigation
A federal investigation connected to the recall of one of Forest Laboratories' drugs preceded the company's acquisition of O'Neal Jones & Feldman.
Allegations concerning Namenda generic entry
Forest Laboratories was accused of using unlawful commercial arrangements to prevent or delay generic versions of Namenda from entering the market.
Brand decisions
2014
Acquired AptalisM&ABackground
Forest sought to broaden its specialty-pharmaceutical portfolio and commercial base.
Action taken
Forest acquired Aptalis for approximately $2.9 billion in February 2014.
Aftermath
The acquisition preceded Forest's sale to Actavis later in the same year.
Acquisition value. Approximately $2.9 billion transaction value (February 2014)
2014
Accepted acquisition by ActavisM&ABackground
Forest faced pressure from major shareholder Carl Icahn and was no longer operating as an independent company after the transaction.
Action taken
Actavis acquired Forest Laboratories, with the transaction closing on July 1, 2014.
Aftermath
Forest ceased to exist as an independent pharmaceutical company and its assets were integrated into Actavis's successor operations.
2000
Ended Warner-Lambert marketing relationship for CelexaStrategyBackground
Warner-Lambert, which had been involved in marketing Celexa, was acquired by Pfizer.
Action taken
Forest ended its relationship with Warner-Lambert and continued to manage the product's U.S. commercialization through its own commercial strategy and other arrangements.
Aftermath
Celexa remained one of Forest's best-known antidepressant products.
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