McKesson Canada began its 100^th anniversary celebration on November 9, 2005. McKesson Canada was founded by 16 Canadian wholesale companies, which where incorporated in 1905 as the National Drug and Chemical Company.  

McKesson Canada’s roots date back to long before the Confederation and spans all regions of the country, starting as a wholesaler, distributor and manufacturer of chemicals, elixirs, and other pharmaceutical products. Today, McKesson Canada is not only the largest national pharmaceutical distributor, but also a leading provider of automated pharmacy dispensing systems, hospital software solutions, third-party logistics as well as specialty, consulting and clinical trial solutions.  

“Few Canadian companies have been able to maintain a leadership position in their industry for as long as McKesson Canada. Even fewer can claim a history that dates back to the turn of the 20th century. The key to our success – past, present and future – lies in our partnerships with our customers in retail pharmacies, hospitals, and manufacturers,” said Claudio Bussandri, President and CEO of McKesson Canada.   

With headquarters in Montreal, Québec, McKesson Canada employs over 2,500 people and ranks in the top 50 largest companies in Canada. It carries more than 35,000 products from 800 manufacturers in 15 distribution centres across Canada.  McKesson Canada’s client base includes 7,000 retail pharmacies and 1,350 hospitals and institutions. 

Empowering Health Care since 1905
Like most longstanding companies, McKesson Canada’s history is marked by a number of acquisitions, mergers and diversifications, spanning the past century: 

Building a national base: early 1900s 

• November 1905, the National Drug and Chemical Company of Canada is incorporated by the merger of 16 founding wholesale companies.
  
• February 1906, the newly formed corporation initiates the operational integration of wholesale drug companies and retail stores, and is headquartered in Montreal.
  
• Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are established in Montreal and the brand Na-Dru-Co (short for National Drug and Chemical Co.) is created. Marketing of the line of high-quality chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals begins.
  
• National Drug expands in Western Canada and the Maritimes with the purchase of wholesale companies. 

Consolidating for the future: 1960 - 1990

• The Eastern division of National Drug and Estey & Curtis merge their operations under the new name of Eastern Drug Services (EDS) and become the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in the Atlantic Provinces.
  
• M. Loeb Limited acquires a controlling interest in 1964, and in 1977 Provigo takes control of M. Loeb and its subsidiaries. 
  
• In 1980, the corporate name is changed to National Drug Limited.
  
• In 1987, National Drug Limited changes its name to Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Services. 

Accelerated growth: 1991 - 2000  

• In 1991, McKesson Corporation in San Francisco acquires 100 percent interest in Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Services.
  
• In 1992, Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Services acquires Focus Pharmaceutical Group in Quebec. 
  
• In 1996, McKesson Outsource Logistics is created to offer third-party logistics to Canadian manufacturers in the pharmaceutical, health care and cosmetics industries.
  
• In 1997, Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Services acquires the distribution services of Drug Trading Company. 

The 21st Century: 2001 - 2005 

• In 2002, the McKesson Canada name is adopted and a new brand is introduced.
  
• In January 2004, the McKesson Specialty Pharmaceutical Solutions division is created to develop services for the emerging specialty pharmaceutical market.
  
• In April 2004, McKesson Canada creates McKesson Logistics Solutions, a joint venture combining the assets of McKesson Outsource Logistics and Associated Logistics Solutions (ALS). McKesson Logistics Solutions offers expanded third-party logistics and specialty services to manufacturers. 
  
•  In January 2005, McKesson Canada purchases the assets of Phase 4 Health, a Canadian company that offers consulting, clinical trials and patient support services to the pharmaceutical industry. 

McKesson Canada Celebrates 100 years of Empowering Health Care  

• November 2005 marks the beginning of McKesson Canada's 100th anniversary — a celebration of our first century of service to Canada's health care market. 

For more information contact Françoise Leblanc, Coordinator Communications, McKesson Canada: telephone 514.832.8287,  via email communication@mckesson.ca.