Medicine Through Time: Sulphonamides and Penicillin

Medicine Through Time: Sulphonamides and Penicillin

1. Gerhard Domagk found a dye which stopped Streptococci

   • 1932: Domagk discovered a red dye, Prontosil, Stopped the Streoptococcus microbe from multiplying in mice - Without being poisonous to them.
   • 1935: Domagk's Daughter caught the disease. He gave her a large dose of Prontosil and she Recovered
   • The active ingredient was identified as Sulphonamide. Many drugs based on these followed.
   • Unfortunately, Sulphonamide drugs were found the Damage the Liver and Kidneys

2. Florey and Chain found a way to Purify Penicillin

   • Penicillin needed purifying as it was a natural product, so These two developed it.
   • At first they didn't have the resources to mass-produce it.
   • They knew it was vital for treating wounds recieved by soldiers in WWII. Britain was too busy making bombs, so they went to America
   • 1941: America joined the War and Mass production stared in 1944
   • 1945: Fleming, Florey and Chain were awarded the Nobel Prize