Rowell Laboratories

Rowell Laboratories, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Founded	1929 in Baudette, Minnesota, United States
Founder	Joseph C.N. Rowell, Theodore H. Rowell Sr.
Headquarters	Florida , United States
Products	Vitamins, gastroenterology prescription medications, skin care products (NatureCare line)
Number of employees	380 (1985)

Rowell Laboratories, Inc. is a pharmaceutical manufacturer established in 1929, initially located in Baudette, Minnesota, with subsequent operations in Marietta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida. The company was reestablished in Florida in 2008 and currently develops and markets the NatureCare line of skin care products.

Commercial fishing and blue fox farming

In 1920, Joseph C.N. Rowell, the grandson of inventor and industrialist John Samuel Rowell, settled near Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota to run a commercial fishing enterprise. Having served as a 1st lieutenant in the US Army during World War I with expertise in aircraft maintenance, Joe had earlier founded the Chetlo Harbor Packing Company in 1912, which specialized in salmon fishing and canning.

Joe launched the Rowell Fishery on Lake of the Woods, concentrating on commercial fishing despite frequent catches of burbot—a freshwater fish related to cod that held no commercial value but preyed on juvenile walleyes and northern pike.

Together with Dr. Osborne from International Falls, Minnesota, Joe also initiated the Northern Blue Fox Farm to breed blue foxes for the fur trade, which was highly profitable at the time. Feeding the foxes burbot resulted in superior pelts that were highly regarded by fur buyers. In 1930, around 100 fox pups were born within a single week, with blue fox pelts fetching approximately $290 each on the market.

Theodore H. Rowell Sr. and Burbot Liver Oil

Joe and his son, Theodore H. Rowell, discovered that burbot fish livers contained oil rich in vitamins A and D—6 to 8 times more concentrated than commonly used Cod liver oil. After completing his studies at the University of Minnesota pharmacy school and opening a drugstore in Baudette, Ted shifted his focus following a fire in 1929 that destroyed his shop. He spent a year investigating burbot liver oil, validating its high vitamin content through analyses conducted by Parke-Davis and Eli Lilly. Ted developed extraction techniques along with dosage forms, packaging solutions, and marketing plans, initially promoting the product through mail correspondence and sample distribution. Early orders were robust, highlighted by a major purchase from Pepsodent for 36 million bottles, though production capabilities were limited.

The Burbot Liver Products Company

In 1935, Joe and Ted formally established the Burbot Liver Products Company, with Joe serving as president and Ted as secretary; the company was capitalized at $10,000. By 1937, their primary product, Rowell Burbot Liver Oil, had earned endorsement from the American Medical Association (AMA). Originally offered in 8 oz. bottles, its potency allowed a transition to dropper bottles requiring only a few drops per dose compared to spoonfuls of Cod liver oil. The company expanded its product range to include salves and soft gel capsules produced under contract by R.P. Scherer Company.

By 1940–41, annual purchases of burbot livers reached , supplied by all 30 commercial fishermen operating on Lake of the Woods as well as others throughout northern Minnesota. The onset of World War II disrupted Cod liver oil imports due to Germany’s invasion of Norway, substantially increasing demand for Burbot Liver Oil.

During the 1940s, the company broadened its portfolio by introducing multi-vitamins and mineral supplements beginning with Vio-Cal, a calcium product. It extended its sales and distribution reach throughout the Midwest and expanded its offerings to nearly 200 different products, including prescription medications.

Rowell Laboratories, Inc. and Theodore H. Rowell Jr.

In 1949, the company adopted the name Rowell Laboratories, Inc. to signify its transition from products derived from burbot liver to a focus on gastroenterology. By 1962, sales had climbed to roughly $1.2 million, coinciding with Theodore H. Rowell Jr.'s elevation to the presidency. When founder Ted Rowell Sr. stepped down in 1965, the company’s revenue had increased to about $1.5 million, highlighting a successful evolution from its initial challenges.

Ted Jr. implemented a management philosophy centered on delegation, shifting away from his father’s direct, hands-on entrepreneurial style. This approach enabled him to concentrate on expanding the business and enhancing profitability while granting vice presidents autonomy over their respective divisions and encouraging their involvement in shaping corporate strategy. Prominent executives during this era included Thomas Dinndorf, Cyril "Pep" Pepera, Dr. Ben Greenwell, George Cherekos, Robert Solheim, Jesse Cohn, and Dr. Dave Powell. The board of directors featured Ted Jr., William H. Ramsey, Lawrence Weaver, Raymond Schwiegert, and Daniel Haggerty. Operating under this governance model, the company generally experienced a doubling of sales every five to six years.

By the mid-1980s, Rowell Laboratories had established a national presence as a manufacturer specializing in prescription medications for digestive ailments. In 1984, the firm reported revenues of $15 million with a net profit margin close to 10%.

Rowell merger with Reid-Provident Laboratories, Inc.

In 1985, Ted Rowell Jr. joined forces with Ferrell S. Ryan of Reid Provident Labs in Atlanta to merge their complementary enterprises into Reid-Rowell, Inc., appointing Ted Rowell Jr. as chairman and Ferrell Ryan as CEO. The newly formed company employed 380 individuals, including a sales team of 140 representatives, and maintained full staffing throughout the merger process. Having previously traded on the pink sheets, Reid-Provident's improved financial standing and asset base enabled Reid-Rowell to qualify for NASDAQ listing. The combined revenue for 1985 was $32 million, with first-quarter 1986 sales reaching $10 million and forecasts projecting over $50 million for the entire year.

Sale to Solvay & Cie

In 1986, Belgian chemical firm Solvay & Cie acquired Reid-Rowell, transforming it into a wholly owned subsidiary named Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ted Rowell Jr. remained on the board until 1991. Today, the company reports revenues exceeding $1 billion annually. Ted Jr. continues his involvement in pharmaceutical ventures by advising the University of Florida School of Pharmacy, serving on Astralis Group’s board, and participating with Rowell Capital Partners—an investment bank specializing in pharmaceutical sector acquisitions.

Separately, in 2008 members of the Rowell family established Rowell Laboratories, Inc., incorporated in Florida, which produces natural antifungal and antibiotic skin care products marketed under the NatureCare brand. This entity operates independently from both the original Rowell Laboratories and Solvay Pharmaceuticals.

In September 2009, Solvay SA announced its intention to sell its global pharmaceutical division to Abbott Laboratories for approximately $6.6 billion in cash. At that time, Solvay Pharmaceuticals Global generated around $3.9 billion in annual revenues—including $1.2 billion from U.S.-based operations—and employed approximately 9,600 staff members. This acquisition returned control of Solvay’s U.S. and European pharmaceutical segments to American ownership and management oversight.

Theodore H. Rowell Graduate Fellowship at the University of Minnesota School of Pharmacy

In memory of Ted Sr., the Rowell family created the Theodore H. Rowell Graduate Fellowship at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. These awards, ranging between $3,000 and $6,000, primarily support Minnesota residents who hold U.S. citizenship.

Rowell Laboratories, Inc. today

Rowell Laboratories was re-established in 2008 as a corporation in Florida and currently produces natural and homeopathic health care items marketed under the NatureCare label.

Rowell firsts

• 1932 Introduction of Burbot Liver Oil
• 1937 Recognition by the American Medical Association for Rowell Burbot Liver Oil
• 1938 Launch of the first injectable vitamin A
• 1944 Creation of the initial dry-fill multiple vitamin capsule
• 1947 Release of Vio-Bec, the first ultrahigh-potency therapeutic B complex
• 1949 Development of the first PAS dosage forms
• 1950 Introduction of Vio-Dex, an anti-obesity product combining multi-vitamins and amphetamine
• 1957 Debut of C-Ron, combining ferrous fumarate with vitamin C
• 1958 Launch of Residerm, the first ion exchange resin used for Rhus dermatosis treatment
• 1961 Introduction of Vio-Dexose, a novel anti-obesity therapy
• 1966 Formulation of hydrocortisone retention enemas to treat Ulcerative Colitis
• 1967 Submission of the initial NDA for Lithium Carbonate; FDA delays allowed competitors to gain market share
• 1967 Approval of the first twice-daily Lithium dosage by the FDA
• 1973 NDA approval obtained for ORASONE Tablets (dosages from 1 mg to 20 mg)
• 1976 Inclusion of Rowell products in NASA’s Skylab mission supplies
• 1979–1983 Patents awarded for controlled-release solid tablets ensuring consistent medication delivery
• 1980 Development of advanced sugar-free bulk laxative psyllium formulations designed for easy mixing
• 1981 Introduction of Chenix, the first FDA-approved drug for gallstone dissolution in the U.S.
• 1988 Launch of Rowasa, the first enema treatment containing 5-ASA for Ulcerative Colitis

Patents held

• US Patent 4539198 – Solid pharmaceutical forms enabling slow, zero-order drug release through controlled surface erosion
• US Patent 4264573 – Pharmaceutical compositions designed for gradual release via controlled surface erosion
• US Patent 4361545 – Solid drug formulations providing slow, zero-order release by means of controlled surface erosion
• US Patent 4321263 – Psyllium powder processed to achieve instant and uniform dispersibility
• US Patent 4657900 – Pharmaceutical product containing bisulfite-stabilized aqueous solution of 5-aminosalicylic acid and its production method

Further reading

• The Art of Coating Tablets by T.H. Rowell (1949)
• Two Men... and A Fish: The Story of Rowell Laboratories by Jenny Morman (1986)
• Vitamins from Our Own Fish, Scientific American, April 1939, p.215