PDE Celebrates 150 Years as the Oldest Pharmaceutical Trade Association With Plans to Launch New Markets in 2011!

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PDE (formerly the Philadelphia Drug Exchange), a Pharmaceutical Trade Association announced today that it is celebrating 150 years as the oldest continuously active trade association in the United States while setting out to expand services into new markets, nationally.

Established on January 22, 1861 by a group of Philadelphia wholesale druggists and chemical manufacturers to protect their manufacturing and distribution interests and to survive the coming storm of the Civil War in addition to providing much needed medicines to all troops, the Exchange was founded in the spirit of friendship and cooperation which superseded the commercial rivalry that existed at the time. One hundred fifty years later, the PDE has evolved into a major networking organization with membership of approximately 100 companies from the pharmaceutical industry, suppliers to the industry, pharmaceutical consultants and academia.

The PDE will celebrate this momentous achievement with recognition of its Philadelphia roots in proper style at its Spring Gala, Friday evening, March 4, 2011 at the historic Union League (http://www.unionleague.org/). The Honorable Mark S. Schweiker, former Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the featured speaker. Additionally, the event will have a Philadelphia flair with a taste of a Mummers String Band. There is also a rumor that Abraham Lincoln will be stopping by to see what The PDE has been up to for the past 150 years! 

"PDE also marks its sesquicentennial with plans to expand member programs nationally to include Education Tracks and CXO Round Tables," said Mark Eckhardt, PDE's President.  "Our goal is to facilitate a unique cross-industry platform among Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences and Medical Device companies and leaders, to discuss common issues and possible solutions. And we've established an Education Committee to identify, develop and offer valuable education content throughout PDE Member organizations, such as Procurement, Human Resources, Operations and Marketing."

Member companies as well as new companies are invited to attend PDE's March 4th celebration. For reservations or membership information, visit http://www.pdetrade.org/ or call Mike DiFebbo at 1-(610) 631-1255, or by e-mail at [email protected].  A limited number of rooms for the evening of March 4th are also available by contacting the Union League directly at 215-563-6500.

SOURCE PDE, A Pharmaceutical Trade