BMS Logo (Bristol Myers Squibb Logo) PNG
Medical brand logos should represent support and compassion. The visually simple logo of BMS (Bristol Myers Squibb) fully meets these requirements, symbolizing customer focus and love for people. The company lends a helping hand to all who need it, offering effective drugs to treat various diseases.
BMS: Brand overview
The history of Bristol Myers Squibb dates back to 1989, resulting from a merger between two pharmaceutical pioneers: Bristol-Myers, founded in 1887 by William McLaren Bristol and John Ripley Myers, and Squibb, established by Edward Robinson Squibb in 1858. Initially, Bristol-Myers produced products like Sal Hepatica laxative salts and Ipana toothpaste, steadily growing through innovative research and strategic acquisitions such as Mead Johnson & Company. Squibb, known for groundbreaking work in anesthesia and antibiotics, was crucial in supplying medicines during the World Wars and introduced the first ACE inhibitor, Capoten. The 1989 merger combined Bristol-Myers’s strength in drug formulations and oncology treatments with Squibb’s expertise in antibiotics and cardiology, forming a global pharmaceutical powerhouse. Subsequent acquisitions, including Medarex and Celgene, significantly expanded the company’s oncology and immunology portfolios, leading to breakthrough medications like Opdivo, Yervoy, and Eliquis. Under leadership figures like Giovanni Caforio, the firm emphasized advanced therapies, including immuno-oncology and cell therapy, becoming a prominent player in treatments for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and immune disorders by 2024.
Meaning and History
Before the Bristol-Myers and Squibb corporations merged, each had its logo. They were used on the labels of drugs sold under their respective brand names. For example, Squibb’s products featured an ancient building with three columns; after the merger of the two pharmaceutical giants, a company with a completely new visual appearance was created. Its emblem, with a geometric symbol of six triangular petals, remained relevant for several decades until 2020, when the Siegel+Gale agency turned the blue flower into a purple hand. The updated graphic symbol is intended to showcase BMS’s rapid growth.
What is BMS (Bristol Myers Squibb)?
BMS (Bristol Myers Squibb) manufactures biologics and pharmaceuticals to treat various diseases, including rheumatic diseases, cancer, HIV, diabetes, etc. It is one of the leaders of the international pharmaceutical market and is among the world’s largest medicines manufacturers. The company owns numerous research centers in different states, where drugs for AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases are invented.
1989 – 2020
Bristol-Myers Squibb was founded in 1989 through the merger of two corporations. The merger created eighteen business lines: six major and twelve minor. The designers presented them as an equal number of mini-triangles forming six pyramids (when viewed from above) arranged in a circle. The geometric pattern resembles a stylized flower or snowflake. All contours are colored in blue, which is typical for the pharmaceutical industry. The brand name is also blue. It is on the right side and written in an elegant serif font. Some letters have through spaces due to unfinished strokes.
2020 – today
The decision to redesign the BMS logo was made for several reasons:
- Many of the company’s original lines of business no longer exist, so the abstract pattern of eighteen triangles no longer makes sense: that number is not associated with anything.
- In 2020, Bristol Myers Squibb acquired the biopharmaceutical corporation Celgene. This event marked the beginning of a new era, which necessitated an updated logo.
- The company owners wanted to shift the focus and emphasize the focus on the patient and their problems. They decided to draw attention to the drug manufacturer rather than individual brands.
As a result, the abstract geometric symbol was replaced by five purple stripes depicting the outline of a palm. This hand symbolizes the help that BMS provides to sick people. It serves as a symbol of humanity and an individualized approach to drug development. The company name is on the right side in a gray sans-serif font.
The logo was designed by branding firm Siegel+Gale and in-house marketing experts at Bristol Myers Squibb. Before this, research was conducted to determine which design would attract the most attention.
Font and Colors
The early version of the logo featured a formal serif typeface resembling Brighton SB Medium. Its thin lines conveyed a sense of classic elegance. Later, the brand adopted a more modern design with simple, clean lettering. Like Helsinki Light, the new typeface is characterized by even shapes and calm geometric contours that make it visually pleasing.
The color scheme followed a similar evolution. Initially, a deep blue dominated, conveying trust and professionalism—key qualities in the medical field. Over time, the company switched to a brighter fuchsia tone to emphasize originality and an emotional approach to health and care. The gray color of the text balances the vividness of the main shade, adding restraint and stability to the company’s visual identity.
The purple tone of the emblem evokes associations with care, warmth, and support. As a result of the changes in typography and color, the brand gained an image that combines reliability, modernity, and attentiveness to patients.