Behring

Behring is a German surname and also appears in historical and geographical contexts. The most prominent figure associated with the name is Emil von Behring (1854–1917), a German physiologist who pioneered serum therapy and immunology. He developed the diphtheria antitoxin and, with Shibasaburo Kitasato, helped establish the principles of passive immunity. His work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901.

Behringwerke refers to the Behring Works, a German pharmaceutical facility founded by Emil von Behring in Marburg in 1904. The site became closely associated with the production of diphtheria antitoxin and other plasma-derived therapies, contributing to early advances in immunotherapy. Over the years, the Behring name appeared in various corporate entities through mergers and reorganizations within the pharmaceutical industry.

Geographically, Behring is encountered in older or German-language usages as Behring Strait, an historical spelling for what is now called the Bering Strait, the body of water between Alaska and Russia. The strait was named after the 18th-century explorer Vitus Bering; in some historical texts the surname appears as Behring rather than Bering. The Behring name also features in related terms such as Behring Sea and other historical references tied to exploration and science.