Christopher Columbus was the best deal maker in history. He left not knowing where he was going, and upon arriving, not knowing where he was. He returned not knowing where he had been, and did it all on borrowed money.
L-DopaIn 1970, L-dopa (levo-dihydroxyphenylalanine) was reported to benefit about 5% of the patients in reversing the progress of Parkinson's disease. The results of the first widescale experimental use of the drug were announced at a symposium on L-dopa at Georgetown University School of Medicine by Dr. Robert Keen, director of clinical pharmacology for Eaton Laboratories. The work also showed partial improvement in 56% of the 601 patients in this testing, which preceded approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Agency. However, side effects were found to be widespread, ranging from nausea, vomiting or appetite loss to confusion, nervousness or hallucinations. Preliminary investigations three years earlier showed the potential for the drug, when no other effective drug existed.* L-dopa entered national distribution in Sep 1970.« [Image: L-dopa molecule.] |
