In the Beginning, There Was Serendipity

The history of early drug research is full of serendipitous discoveries. Many of the active principles of drugs were discovered by chance. But most of the successes can be attributed to an outstanding researcher with a “prepared mind” who observed important effects. Dyes and pharmaceuticals, both developed in the early stages of the emerging chemical industry, stimulated each other in a very fruitful synergy. One of the most famous examples of a serendipitous discovery is Fleming’s discovery of the first antibiotic principle, penicillin, as a defense mechanism of a fungus against bacteria. The hallucinogenic effects of LSD were discovered through the partial synthesis of ergoline alkaloids. At the time, researchers tended to experiment to see if the active principle would work in humans. Unexpected synthetic products, surprising structural rearrangements, and initially incorrect working hypotheses led to the discovery of new pharmacologically interesting substances with surprising or outstanding properties. Even today, when rational concepts and an understanding of the mode of action dominate drug research, the happy accident can still help create blockbusters, as the recent example of sildenafil (Viagra®) shows. https://sn.pub/ti9pj7