Pharmaceutical Milestones

Question 1

1908

Answer 1

Sulfanilamide introduced (first anti-infective drug – not marketed as an anti-infective until early 1930s)

Question 2

1942

Answer 2

Penicillin introduced (this antibiotic helped the Allies at the end of WWII)

Question 3

1803

Answer 3

Morphine isolated from crude opium

Question 4

1922

Answer 4

Insulin isolated from animal sources

Question 5

1899

Answer 5

Aspirin introduced

Question 6

1945

Answer 6

Benadryl introduced (first antihistamine – H1 blocker)

Question 7

1982

Answer 7

First drug made using recombinant DNA technology (human insulin - Humulin)

Question 8

1948

Answer 8

Cortisone introduced (first systemic corticosteroid)

Question 9

1977

Answer 9

Tagamet introduced for peptic ulcer disease (first H2 blocker antihistamine)

Question 10

1957

Answer 10

First benzodiazepine (Valium-like drug) introduced for “neurosis” (anxiety disorders)

Question 11

1967

Answer 11

Inderal introduced for hypertension (first beta-blocker)

Question 12

1958

Answer 12

Haldol introduced for psychosis (Schizophrenia)

Question 13

1987

Answer 13

Alteplase (first TPA “clot buster” - tissue plasminogen activator) for dissolving blood clots and AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir) introduced (first anti-AIDS drugs)

Question 14

2007

Answer 14

Zyrtec is the first drug to have the same dose strength for both its prescription and OTC forms

Question 15

1987

Answer 15

AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir) introduced (first anti-AIDS drugs) and Alteplase (first TPA “clot buster” - tissue plasminogen activator) for dissolving blood clots

Question 16

2006

Answer 16

Gardasil introduced (first vaccine against cervical cancer – first vaccine against any cancer!)

Question 17

1999

Answer 17

Celebrex introduced for arthritis (first COX-2 inhibitor)

Question 18

2000

Answer 18

Many decongestants and appetite suppressants withdrawn from the market or reformulated when
main ingredient phenylpropanolamine (and also ephedrine) found to cause deaths

Question 19

2001

Answer 19

Anthrax attack on U.S. creates high demand for the fluroquinolone antibiotic Ciprofloxacin.

Question 20

2002

Answer 20

Botox introduced for the treatment of facial wrinkles- also used now for migraine headaches.