Elsevier acquires Beilstein Database

Elsevier, through its subsidiary MDL Information Systems GmbH, has bought the Beilstein Database, the world's largest compilation of chemical facts in the field of organic chemistry.

The Beilstein Database covers organic chemistry from 1771 to date. It contains over 9.8 million compounds, 10 million reactions and 320 million experimental data on chemical properties. It also contains over 900,000 original author abstracts from 1980-present, as well as pharmacological and ecotoxicological data describing the bioactivity of organic chemicals.

Elsevier has been exclusively involved in both the production and marketing of the Beilstein Database under a partnership agreement since 1998. Elsevier has added or updated close to 5 million compounds to the database during that time.