Who Owns Fluorouracil (5-FU)?
Fluorouracil (5-fluorouracil, 5-FU) is a generic chemotherapy drug with no single brand owner. Developed in 1957 and used since the 1960s, it is an antimetabolite that remains a backbone of colorectal cancer treatment in regimens like FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, plus breast, gastric, pancreatic, and skin cancers. It is manufactured by multiple companies including Teva, Pfizer, Fresenius Kabi, and Accord, and is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines.
Parent Company
Founded
1957
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Multiple manufacturers (generic drug)
Fluorouracil (5-FU) Timeline
budgetmass marketGlobalall-ages
Who Owns Fluorouracil (5-FU)?
- Parent Company: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
- Ownership Type: Product line
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: TEVA
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fluorouracil (5-FU) | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries | Product line |
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
Fluorouracil (5-FU) on AmazonAdvertisement
History of Fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Founded: 1957
- Founders: Charles Heidelberger (developer)
Charles Heidelberger and colleagues synthesized 5-fluorouracil in 1957, based on the observation that rat tumors consumed uracil faster than normal tissue. By adding a fluorine atom to the uracil molecule, they created a fraudulent building block that poisons DNA and RNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells, one of the first rationally designed cancer drugs.
FDA approval came in 1962, and 5-FU became a mainstay of gastrointestinal cancer treatment. Its importance deepened when researchers discovered that leucovorin (folinic acid) enhanced its antitumor effect, a pairing that defined colorectal chemotherapy for decades. The 1990s-2000s regimens FOLFOX (5-FU + leucovorin + oxaliplatin) and FOLFIRI (5-FU + leucovorin + irinotecan) remain global standards for colorectal cancer.
The drug also found a second life in dermatology: topical 5-FU (Efudex, approved 1970s) became standard treatment for actinic keratosis and certain skin cancers. Oral prodrugs like capecitabine (Xeloda) convert to 5-FU in the body, extending the molecule's reach into pill form.
Today, nearly 70 years after synthesis, fluorouracil remains one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs in the world, on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and administered to hundreds of thousands of patients annually. Its longevity is remarkable: few drugs from the 1950s remain foundational in their field.
Advertisement
About Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Is Teva Pharmaceutical Industries owned by another company?
No, Teva is an independent publicly traded company with no parent organization. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TEVA and is owned by institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. No single entity holds a controlling stake.
Is Teva publicly traded?
Yes, Teva is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TEVA. The company is also listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Teva first listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 1951 and on the NASDAQ in 1987 before moving to the NYSE.
What is Teva's annual revenue?
Teva reported FY2025 revenue of $16.5 billion, up 5% from $15.8 billion in FY2024. Non-GAAP net income was $2.3 billion with non-GAAP EPS of $2.10. The company guided for FY2026 revenue between $16.8 billion and $17.2 billion. Generic medicines accounted for approximately 70% of total revenue.
Who founded Teva?
Teva was founded in 1901 in Jerusalem by Yitzhak Elstein, Salomon Kahan, and Moshe Levinson as a wholesale drug business. The name Teva means "nature" in Hebrew. The company began manufacturing its own pharmaceutical products in the 1930s and 1940s.
Advertisement
What is Teva's market position?
Teva is the largest generic drug manufacturer in the world by revenue, with operations in approximately 60 countries and a portfolio of approximately 3,500 generic products. Its main competitors include Sandoz, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and Viatris. Teva also markets specialty medicines including Ajovy for migraine.
How much debt does Teva have?
Teva's total debt at the end of FY2025 was approximately $15 billion, down from approximately $36 billion in 2017. The debt reduction has been achieved through asset sales, cost cuts, and operational restructuring. The debt burden originated primarily from the $40.5 billion acquisition of Actavis Generics in 2016.
What is Teva's best-selling drug?
Teva's largest specialty drug is Ajovy (fremanezumab), a preventive treatment for migraine that generated approximately $600 million in FY2025. Copaxone, once Teva's top-selling drug with peak sales of $4.2 billion, has declined to approximately $700 million due to generic competition. Teva's generic drug portfolio collectively generates the majority of revenue.
- Founded: 1901
- Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: TEVA
- Revenue: $16.5 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 36,000
Where Is Fluorouracil (5-FU) Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Multiple manufacturers (generic drug)
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Europe, India
Fluorouracil (5-FU) Categories & Tags
Fluorouracil (5-FU) Recalls & Controversies
As an injectable chemotherapy, 5-FU is subject to the quality and sterility issues common to generic oncology injectables: FDA recalls have occurred over particulate matter and potency issues across manufacturers. Its significant toxicity profile, including potential cardiotoxicity and the DPD-deficiency risk (patients lacking the DPYD enzyme can suffer fatal toxicity, driving calls for pre-treatment genetic testing), is the main clinical controversy. It is not a brand-level controversy but an ongoing safety debate.
Advertisement
Brands Owned by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Fluorouracil (5-FU) Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Generic status makes a foundational chemotherapy affordable and accessible worldwide
- +Decades of clinical experience and inclusion in WHO Essential Medicines ensure continued use
- +Multi-source manufacturing reduces single-supplier risk
- +Its pairing with leucovorin remains a validated, global standard of care
Considerations
- -Commodity economics create chronic thin margins and recurrent shortage risk
- -Significant toxicity, including fatal DPD-deficiency reactions, limits tolerability
- -Newer targeted and immune therapies are displacing cytotoxic chemo in some indications
- -No branded entity invests in innovation or improved formulations of the molecule itself
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions About Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Sources & Further Reading
Advertisement
Competitors to Fluorouracil (5-FU)
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pfizer | Multiple manufacturers (generic drug) | 1952 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Sanofi | France | 2002 | Generic available | Global | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsLeucovorin
Owned by Pfizer Inc.
Generic prescription folinic acid (5-formyltetrahydrofolate) used for methotrexate rescue in high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy, as a biochemical modulator of fluorouracil (5-FU) in colorectal cancer regimens including FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, and for treatment of megaloblastic anemia; originally developed by Lederle Laboratories in the 1940s and now manufactured by multiple pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer/Hospira, Teva, and Fresenius Kabi.
folinic-acidmethotrexate-rescuecolorectal-cancer
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsEloxatin
Owned by Sanofi
Prescription chemotherapy medication (oxaliplatin) for treating colorectal cancer, owned by Sanofi (Euronext Paris: SAN / NASDAQ: SNY). Approved by the FDA in 2002. Now available as a generic following patent expiration.
oncologychemotherapycolorectal-cancer
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Fluorouracil (5-FU) competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Advertisement
Independent Alternatives to Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsBenadryl
Owned by Kenvue
American brand of antihistamine medication used to treat allergies, itching, and cold symptoms, manufactured and marketed by Johnson & Johnson.
antihistamineallergy-reliefcold-medicine
Privately Owned
Benadryl is privately owned, unlike Fluorouracil (5-FU) which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsStayfree
Owned by Kenvue
Feminine hygiene brand of menstrual pads owned by Kenvue globally and Energizer Holdings in North America. Kenvue is being acquired by Kimberly-Clark in a deal closed on November 2, 2026.
feminine-hygienemenstrual-carepads
Privately Owned
Stayfree is privately owned, unlike Fluorouracil (5-FU) which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsBand-Aid
Owned by Kenvue
American adhesive bandage brand invented in 1921, owned by Kenvue Inc. Band-Aid is the leading adhesive bandage brand in the United States and is sold in more than 100 countries.
wound-careadhesive-bandagefirst-aid
Privately Owned
Band-Aid is privately owned, unlike Fluorouracil (5-FU) which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsBoots
Owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance
Boots is the UK's leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, founded in 1849, now operating as The Boots Group under Sycamore Partners since August 2025.
pharmacyhealth-beautyuk-retail
Privately Owned
Boots is privately owned, unlike Fluorouracil (5-FU) which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsDuane Reade
Owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance
Duane Reade is a New York City drugstore chain owned by Walgreen Co. under Sycamore Partners, operating approximately 90 stores across the five boroughs.
pharmacydrugstorenew-york
Privately Owned
Duane Reade is privately owned, unlike Fluorouracil (5-FU) which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsKonsyl
Owned by Konsyl Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Psyllium fiber supplement brand produced by Konsyl Pharmaceuticals, a privately held Maryland company marketing the same psyllium active ingredient as Metamucil since 1934.
fiber-supplementdigestive-healthpsyllium
Privately Owned
Konsyl is privately owned, unlike Fluorouracil (5-FU) which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Stock Information
Advertisement
Jobs at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Latest News About Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Advertisement
Related Articles About Fluorouracil (5-FU)
View more articles
Health
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs: Same Company or Different
Teva is the world's largest generic drugmaker (~6% US share). Sandoz was spun off Novartis in 2023. Viatris came from Mylan + Pfizer's Upjohn. Pfizer itself holds hundreds of ANDAs. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffOct 30, 2026
Generic DrugsBrand NamePharmaceuticals
Health
Dental Brand Ownership Beyond Colgate and Crest
Colgate holds 41.3% global toothpaste share. P&G (Crest, Oral-B) has 14.1%. Haleon (Sensodyne) has 4.4%. Church & Dwight is the only independent at scale. The oral care market is $47.2B. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffNov 12, 2026
ColgateCrestOral B
Health
Health Insurance Brand Ownership: The Big Players
UnitedHealth is #1 ($112B Q2 revenue, 26% MA share). CVS/Aetna is #3 ($106.1B Q2). Humana is #2 in MA (19.8%). Elevance is #2 by enrollment. Discover health insurance brand ownership. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffNov 11, 2026
UnitedhealthAetnaCvs Health
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals category and related searches from other users.
Brandpharmaceutical
Abbokinase
Abbokinase (urokinase) is a thrombolytic medication historically used for pulmonary embolism and catheter clearance. Originally marketed by Abbott Laboratories, now owned by Microbix Biosystems as Kinlytic. FDA-approved since 1978.
Brand in Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
thrombolyticurokinase
Brandmedical-devices
Abbott Medical Devices
Abbott Laboratories' medical device business spanning cardiovascular, diabetes care (FreeStyle Libre), neuromodulation, and structural heart, generating roughly $20 billion annually.
Brand in Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
cardiovasculardiabetes-care
Brandrsv-vaccine
Abrysvo
Pfizer's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine approved for older adults, maternal immunization to protect infants, and younger at-risk adults. Launched 2023.
Brand in Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
vaccinesmaternal-immunization