What was the first drug discovered?
The first synthetic drug, chloral hydrate, was discovered in
1869 and introduced as a sedative-hypnotic; it is still available today in some
countries. The first pharmaceutical companies were spin-offs from the textiles
and synthetic dye industry and owe much to the rich source of organic chemicals
derived from the distillation of coal (coal-tar). The first analgesics and
antipyretics, exemplified by phenacetin and acetanilide, were simple chemical
derivatives of aniline and p-nitrophenol, both of which were byproducts from
coal-tar. An extract from the bark of the white willow tree had been used for
centuries to treat various fevers and inflammation.
For more details : Drug discovery conference
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