Felix Hoffmann patents Aspirin; Bayer registers trademark

Background. Bayer, a German pharmaceutical company, began investigating acetylsalicylic acid in 1897 as a less-irritating alternative to salicylate medicines. Felix Hoffmann, working under Arthur Eichengrün, synthesized the compound in pure, stable form. The name Aspirin derived from Spirsäure, the German name for salicylic acid extracted from meadowsweet. This context establishes the corporate origin of the drug prior to its 1899 commercial launch.

Trademark Registration. By 1899, Bayer had named the drug Aspirin and was selling it globally. The trademark was registered worldwide for Bayer's brand of acetylsalicylic acid. This registration established the commercial identity of the product, distinguishing Bayer's brand from generic salicylates. The legacy row's assertion that Hoffmann personally patented the drug is inaccurate as to the sourced record: the passages document Bayer's trademark registration, but do not specify who filed the patent or when.

Commercial Launch. In 1899, Aspirin was marketed for the first time under the trade name, initially as a powder supplied in glass bottles. This launch marked the transition from laboratory synthesis to global commercial availability. The event scope excludes the full history of Bayer or later trademark disputes, focusing on the initial registration and marketing efforts that established Aspirin as a recognized brand.