QuickTake Q&A: Bayer and Monsanto Both Carry Weight of History

As with any celebrity coupling, the proposed marriage of Bayer and Monsanto would combine two intriguing life stories, each with its share of unflattering chapters.

Founded in 1863 by two friends who made dyes from coal-tar derivatives, Bayer introduced heroin as a cough remedy in 1896 and aspirin in 1899. (The company’s online history mentions aspirin but not heroin.) In 1925, Bayer was folded into IG Farben, the German chemical conglomerate now remembered for its collaboration with Adolf Hitler during World War II. Bayer became independent again after the war. Its chief executive officer, Werner Baumann, says the Bayer name stands for "science, innovation and an utmost level of responsibility for societal needs."