crisis of 1920. Based on expanded sales during the war and the expectation that Germany would offer less competition after the war, Poulenc Frères expanded their production capacity for synthetic drugs. In 1927 the company bought a controlling interest in May & Baker. After the take-over, May & Baker research technicians were trained by Poulenc Frères. In 1928 the Établissements Poulenc Frères merged with the Société chimique des usines du Rhône, which had been founded in 1895, to form Rhône-Poulenc. After the merger Rhône-Poulenc was the largest producer of organic chemicals other than dyes in France. Notes Sources Pharmaceutical companies of France Defunct companies of France 1881 establishments in France 1928 disestablishments in France