Abstract
The important chemotherapeutic agents, Prontosil and pentenylpenicillin (penicillin F), were investigated initially by two men, Domagk and Fleming, who had been influenced by the horrendous wound infections of World War I. The very different pathways leading to their development and to that of the successor antibacterials (sulfa drugs, further penicillins, semi-synthetic penicillins), including the role played by patents, are discussed.
Publication types
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Historical Article
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Review
MeSH terms
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
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Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
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Bacterial Infections / history
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Drug Discovery / history*
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History, 19th Century
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History, 20th Century
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Humans
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Male
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Patents as Topic
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Penicillins / chemical synthesis
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Penicillins / therapeutic use*
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p-Aminoazobenzene / analogs & derivatives*
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p-Aminoazobenzene / chemical synthesis
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p-Aminoazobenzene / therapeutic use
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Penicillins
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p-Aminoazobenzene
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sulfamidochrysoidine