Ego Pharmaceuticals

Ego Pharmaceuticals is a privately held Australian pharmaceutical multinational skin care company with subsidiaries in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, as well as staff in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The company has researched, manufactured and marketed skincare products for over 60 years and has more than 450 employees, 125 of which are based in 11 nations outside of Australia.[1][2][3]

Ego Pharmaceuticals
Founded1953 (1953)
FounderGerald Oppenheim
Rae Oppenheim
HeadquartersBraeside, Victoria,
Australia
BrandsAqium

DermAid MOOV QV SunSense

Elucent
Revenue$6.7 million (2016)

Ego was founded in 1953 in Melbourne as a home-based business by chemist Gerald Oppenheim, and his wife, Rae Oppenheim, a nurse.[4] Through the 1960s, business expanded to include export markets in Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. The company has since expanded into the Middle East, with a regional office in Dubai. Despite takeover offers, the company remains in private hands.[5]

Ego manufactures, exports and markets over 120 dermatological products to treat and prevent skin conditions and to maintain healthy skin. Brands include: QV Skincare, SunSense Sunscreen, Aqium Hand Sanitiser, MOOV Head Lice Treatment, Pinetarsol, DermAid, Elucent, SolvEasy, Azclear, Resolve, ViraproX, and Zatamil.[6]

In 2005, the two most senior managers of Ego received the independent industry ASMI Award for Excellence to the Australian Self Medication Industry.[7] In 2006, Ego was commended for its export success in the Governor of Victoria Export Awards.[8]

In 2014 Ego announced the purchase of 9.5 hectares of land in Dandenong South, building of stage one will commence in October 2015. It will be home to Ego's new global headquarters and a manufacturing center.[9]

The same year Ego was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Victorian Government to extend its flammable goods production capacity in a $14.6 million investment which will boost exports by a substantial $40 million and create 63 new jobs. The expansion will also double bottle filling capacity across the business.[10]

Ego was awarded the 2015 Governor of Victoria Export Health and Biotechnology Award for outstanding international success in healthcare, presented at Government House on 30 September.[11]

Ego provides support to a wide range of charities and community organisations, and invests in dermatological education and research.[12][13][14][15]

History

Ego was founded when a young chemist, Gerald Oppenheim, and his wife, Rae, a nurse, saw a need for products to restore and maintain healthy skin. In the laundry of their suburban Melbourne home they developed Ego Pine Tar Bath Solution, later called Pinetarsol, which remains one of Australia’s most widely used inflammation treatments.

Gerald Oppenheim passed away in 1995 leaving his legacy, Ego, to the family. His sons, Alan Oppenheim the Managing Director,[16] and David Oppenheim both sit on the Board of Directors. As does Dr Jane Oppenheim, Alan’s wife, who is the Scientific and Operations Director.

The name ‘Ego’ is an acronym for Erwin and Gerald Oppenheim. Dr. Erwin Oppenheim, Gerald’s father was a dermatologist.

References
  1. "Ego Pharmaceuticals Customer Success Story: Innovation grant helps develop head lice treatment". Australian Federal Government: AusIndustry. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  2. "A randomised, double-blind, comparative efficacy trial of three head lice treatment options: malathion, yrethrins with piperonyl butoxide and MOOV Head Lice Solution". University of Queensland. 2007. Archived from the original (Google html cached version) on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  3. "German Migration to Australia: An Immigration Discovery Centre Reference Sheet". Museum Victoria. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2007. Personal stories referenced include: Oppenheim, Ego & Oppenheim, Rae. Strong Ego and Thick Skin: Autobiography of Gerald Oppenheim and the story of Development of Ego Pharmaceuticals. Call no: IDC 338.766 855 092 062
  4. Walker, Roseanne (2006). "Oppenheim, Gerald (1925–1995)". Bright Sparcs Biographical Entry. University of Melbourne. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  5. "Inside Business – 12/11/2006: Ego Pharmaceuticals remains family owned, run". Abc.net.au.
  6. http://www.egopharm.com/our-story/
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) ASMI Awards of Excellence
  8. "Commendation for Ego Pharmaceuticals Export Success" (Press release). Victorian Government: Minister for Manufacturing & Export. 11 October 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  9. http://www.afr.com/real-estate/commercial/big-ego-deal-for-places-victoria-estate-20130918-jh3u5
  10. http://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/24035/ego-boost-create-63-new-jobs-bring-additional-40-million-victorian-export
  11. http://www.egopharm.com/news/ego-awarded-as-leader-in-health-and-biotechnology-exports-from-victoria-to-the-world/
  12. ADNA – Australian Dermatology Nurses Association
  13. "Alumni community" (PDF). Vcp.monash.edu.au. 8 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2007.
  14. "Eczema Association of Australasia Inc". Eczema.org.au. Archived from the original on 29 November 2007.
  15. "Psoriasis Association of Singapore". curefor-eczema.com.
  16. "Mr Alan Oppenheim". Monash University. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
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