Prozac, or fluoxetine, is a medication used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, some eating disorders, and also treats panic attacks. Prozac increases the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that maintains mental balance, thus helping mainly with neurological disorders like OCD or depression. The accidental discovery of Prozac was all thanks to the Eli Lilly Company in 1970. Prozac is still used to this day.
II. Discovery
The work that eventually led to the discovery of Prozac started in the Elli and Lilly Company in 1970. It all started as a collaboration between two scientists, Bryan Molloy and Robert Rathbun. They only knew then that this drug, referred to as a antihistamine diphenhydramine, showed only a few antidepressant-like properties as a medication. They started with a compound similar to diphenhydramine, which is a compound used to treat asthma, and Molloy created many derivatives. Another scientist, David Wong, proposed to test these derivatives to try and find a reuptake of serotonin. But, a scientist named Jong-Sir Horng, was the scientist that went through with these tests in May of 1972. Jong found that the compound, that he later called fluoxetine, was the higher compound with a serotonin reuptake. A year later (1975), it was official called fluoxetine and then the Elli and Lilly Company gave it the official brand name of Prozac in the same year. Then in 1977, the Elli and Lilly Company introduced this drug to the FDA and it wasn't approved until 1987 when it was then put on the market.
III. Biography of discoverer
A.) The Elli and Lilly Company (Eli Lilly)
Around 1885, a pharmacist by the name of Eli Lilly wanted to create a wholesale medical company in a department store near him named Billfold and Lilly. His wife's death from malaria influenced his decision on creating this wholesale medical company. Eli's goal was to be known for high quality prescription drugs, unlike the patent pills of the other medical companies. He did exactly this and he began to become known as the place to go to for prescription drugs. As his company began to expand throughout the city of Indianapolis, he began to hire members of his family to help with the book keeping and selling, etc. As business became stronger, Eli began to expand and buy department stores all around indianapolis (where he established the headquarters). When Eli Lilly died in 1898, his son Josiah K. Lilly, Sr. inherited the company. Josiah continued in his fathers view of high quality
prescriptions, and business became strong, especially after the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. He also hired many antibiotic research scientists to research for new antibiotics, which led them to the discovery of Prozac. As the company expanded across the globe, so did the variety of antibiotics. Eli and Lilly company is still a strong company to this day, functioning from the headquarters that Eli Lilly established in Indianapolis.IV. Impact on world/humanity
Prozac is an antidepressant drug used worldwide. It is mainly used to treat major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, panic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, cataplexy, obesity, and alcohol dependence. The impact this drug has on the world is quite a big one. Because of this drug being so popular as an antidepressant, not only did it treat disorders, it was used in culture. For example, it has been a play on broadway, called Prozak and the Platypus. And it has also been mentioned in many different songs and there have been many novels written about it, such as "Listening to Prozac" by Peter D. Kramer.
V. Journal article review
This article is an article that I found interesting. This article is about how many people believe that Eli Lilly lied to the people of the united states because he had "cherry picked" the people he had used for his drug trials to show only what he wanted to happen with the drug. Link is in the reference section.
VI. References
1. Jesilow, Pepinisky, H.E. (1992). Myths that cause crime (3rd ed.) Santa Ana, CA: Seven Locks Press, Retrieved April 29, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=864298
2. Prakash, A. (2000) Greening the Firm: The Politics of Corporate Enviromentalism. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved April 29, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105028581
3. Article: http://www.naturalnews.com/Prozac.html
YOUTUBE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ng4WJ4ZDN4
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