Failure certainly does not always lead to success. However, failure works in many mysterious ways that often lead to more wisdom and enrichment than success. These include the microwave, brandy, Teflon and even the chocolate chip cookies. In this article, we'll take a look at three “fuck-ups” (if you want to call them that), pharmaceutical discoveries that prompted further scientific research, or were commercialized into major retail drugs, or at the very least shook up scientists with unexpected plot twists in the pharmaceutical industry:
Mold problems
While a few scientific articles in the past have suggested the idea that fungi and bacteria have epic battles against each other, it was dr. Alexander Fleming who unknowingly got the ball rolling and tested this theory in 1928.
The bacteriologist working at St. Mary's Hospital in London returned after a summer vacation in Scotland, only to find a messy and moldy problem growing on some of the Petri dishes he'd left in his lab.
In fact, a colony of “Staphylococcus Aureus” (a bad, bad bacteria that causes many diseases) was overwhelmed by a fungus called “Penicillium Notatum”. After a quick look at the microscope, Fleming discovered that the fungus was preventing the growth of the pathogen. After deliberately repeating this accident several times, he successfully confirmed this discovery.
“When I woke up just after sunrise on September 28, 1928, I certainly had no intention of revolutionizing all medicine by discovering the world's first antibiotic or bacterial killer. But I think that's exactly what I did."
As Alexander was about to retire and did not have the resources to isolate the primary ingredient, some other researchers continued to test and develop the final product we all know: Penicline, which was finished after 14 years of testing. and investigate after Fleming's initial discovery.
Finally, Dr. Alexander Fleming was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945 for his discovery, not without warning us in advance that this new medical milestone could develop an antimicrobial resistance (which is a current problem in society).
Striking pants
When a nurse checked test patients for Pfizer's new drug in the late XNUMXs, she discovered something unusual. Some of them were on their stomachs and had considerable vicarious shame ...
She soon noticed that many patients had erections.
After several successful tests on animals and proving that there were no secondary effects, the company Pfizer decided to test the substance Sildenafil in humans, a promising ingredient that can dilate the blood vessels of the heart by blocking the PDE-5 protein. a possible solution for the treatment of cardiovascular problems. But apparently Sildenafil decided to widen other parts of the body's blood vessels ...
They kept testing on more volunteers and got the same result. It was then that Pfizer's director of discovery research, Ian Osterloh and his team, decided to go ahead and see where this discovery would take them. Since the cardiovascular problems with this new drug were only slightly resolved, they chose to focus the new pilot on the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
"I was as surprised as anyone when my research into a potential treatment for heart disease revealed a side effect that was revolutionizing sexual health." - Dr. Ian Osterloh
Rumors about this new drug spread unexpectedly, resulting in letters from impotence patients explaining the struggles and consequences of living with erectile dysfunction: the frustration, shame, the impact on their relationships and how desperate they were for effective treatment.
These letters convinced Pfizer to go ahead with the investigation and boost the expensive and lengthy process of getting a license.
Viagra was officially launched in 1998 and has helped about 20 million people over the past 62 years. Until last year, because Pfizer's patent expired in 2020. (Affordable Erections for Everyone, Yes!)
Fantastic photos, shapes and laugh kicks
In the Middle Ages, people in Europe continued to die ergotism (also known as St. Anthony's Fire): Convulsions, falling limbs, dementia, and hallucinations were the main symptoms for death. Ergot, a fungus found on rye, caused this terrible disease.
And while it may sound awful, people quickly discovered that ergot was a great remedy to stop postpartum bleeding and a great way to induce labor.
This curious benevolent effect on this devastating agent encouraged Professor Arthur Stoll to isolate the active ingredient he believed could stimulate respiratory and circulatory systems.
Years later, Stoll set up his own laboratory and hired Albert Hoffman, who then continued Stoll's mission. After a confusing and long process of purification and many resulting synthesized substances (which we will not explain as we are not scientists), Hoffman (on his 25th attempt) obtained a substance called LSD-25 (lysergic acid diethylamide).
This substance was intended to stimulate circulation, but caused only a few crazy-behaved and overactive lab rats, leading Mr. Hoffman to put the research aside for 5 years, but make him think about the outcome.
In 1943, driven by curiosity, Hoffman admitted LSD a whopping 26th chance, and tried to synthesize the material again, this time he had to stop because of a strange dizziness and relentless sensation, followed by an “uninterrupted steam of fantastic photos, extraordinary shapes with an intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. “
"I did not choose LSD, LSD found and called me." - Dr. Albert Hoffman
A few days later, on a daring (or perhaps stupid) attempt to record the experience, Hoffman (at 4:20 pm!) Swallowed a controlled dose of LSD-25 and recorded his discoveries: dizziness, hallucinations, and an uncontrollable need to laugh.
After the discovery, Dr. Hoffman rode back home on his bike, which eventually became an iconic date for LSD enthusiasts: the Bicycle Day!
While being tested for the treatment of depression and anxiety, LSD fever exploded in the 60s, as a funny substance to spend time with friends, and Hoffman witnessed the demonization and banning of his substance as a medical solution by the UN and the United States.
The potential of LSD for medicinal purposes is not yet fully known. But what is certain is that there was a lot of laughter in this discovery.
So… what have we learned? Don't be afraid of a mistake, try 25 times if necessary, you may not get what you expect. And when we fail, exciting possibilities and discoveries can reveal themselves to us!
Sources including Evergreen (EN), FuckUpNights (EN), NCBI (EN), NRC (NL), reason (EN)
