Discovered: in 1928 by Alexander Fleming who found that mould prevented the growth of bacteria in his lab.
Used: against infections including meningitis and diphtheria. In the 1950s it was first used against syphilis, a disease that had previously been considered incurable.
Wonder? Transformed the treatment of many serious diseases. However, the drug can cause an allergic reaction and even death, although this is rare.
Discovered: Purified from willow bark in the 1800s it was first sold as a commercial drug in 1899.
Used: as a painkiller and to prevent blot clots
Wonder? There have been suggestions that the drug can be used to treat everything from Alzheimer’s to even some forms of cancer. However, aspirin can lead to dangerous stomach bleeding and experts warn people should not take a daily dose to protect their heart unless they have already suffered a heart attack.
Discovered: Lovastatin, the first of the statin drugs, was first used in 1987.
Used: to reduce the amount of cholesterol in cells – forcing them to take cholesterol in from the blood stream, lowering levels overall.
Wonder? Used to prevent heart attacks it has also been shown to reduce the risk of potentially fatal blood clots. Side effects include muscle pain and even occasionally severe deterioration of muscle, which can trigger kidney failure. However, doctors generally agree that the benefits outweigh the risks.
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