Great Moments in Medicines Innovation

Since the beginning of the 20th century there have been some great moments in medicines innovation. Learn more about them here.

 
1900 to the 1920's
25 was middle aged, flu swept across the world and Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.
1930's to the 1940's
Some of the first treatments for epilepsy, heart and attack and stroke and an early weapon against cancer.
1950's
The basis of modern biotechnology was formed after the discovery of the structure of DNA, leukaemia becomes a treatable disease and the a polio vaccination is shown to be safe and effective.
1960's
The introduction of a new class of anti-anxiety medicine leads to advances in the treatment of mental health, the number of measles cases falls due to the development of a vaccine, the first beta-blocker that reduces cardiac arrest is introduced and a new anti-rejetion medicine leads to the first successful kidney transplant.
1970's
A safer anesthesia is developed, a more selective type of hypertension treatment is introduced which reduces side effects, for the first time peptic ulcers can be treated in a number of months without surgery and the small pox vaccination programme leads to the eradication of the disease.
1980's
The first ACE inhibitor is introduced which reduce cardiovascular disease, the Orphan Medicine Act is passed which provides incentives to develop rare diseases, the cause of AIDS is discovered and regulatory authorities approve the first treatment for HIV infection, interferons are approved to treat leukaemia and a new class of cholesterol-lowering medicines, statins, is discovered.
1990's
The first 'atypical antipsychotic' is introduced for the treatment of schizophrenia, a new medicine is introduced for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, a medicines derived from the bark of the Pacific Yew Tree is approved as a treatment for ovarian and breast cancer, protease inhinitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are introduced to improve the health and life expectancy of people with AIDS, regulatory authorities approve medicines for the treatment of river blindness, rheumatoid arthritis and a biotech product to treat a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
2000-Present Day
The second and third class for Alzheimer's disease is approved, further advances are made in the treatment of HIV with the development of a medicine which lowers the amount of virus in the body and the development of fusion inhibitors which offers hope to people who have developed resistance to other HIV medicines, regulatory authorities approve a medicine that targets chronic myeloid leukemia on a molecular level and the Human Genome Project completes the sequencing of genetic coding providing new strategies to diagnose, treat and prevent disease.
 

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