In the case of penicillin, for example, the last U.S. penicillin fermentation plant—which once produced 70% of the world's supply—closed in 2004. ... U.S. producers gradually went out of business, and Beijing now enjoys a major return on its investment through increased control of global pharmaceutical supplies.

Who makes penicillin in the United States?

Building on its experience with fermentation techniques first implemented twenty years earlier to manufacture citric acid, Pfizer succeeded in producing large quantities of penicillin using deep-tank fermentation. Its success helped make penicillin available to Allied soldiers by the end of the war.

Where is penicillin manufactured?

Three of the four companies that still produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient for benzathine penicillin G are located in China. These are North China Pharmaceutical Group Semisyntech Co. Ltd, CSPC Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd. and Jiangxi Dongfeng Pharmaceutical Co..