
In the history of medicine there are a lot of cases, the emergence of surprising discoveries were the result of random observations or findings. Two of the most striking examples so far - the discovery of X-ray radiation and antibiotics.
In 1895 the German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen noticed strange green glow in the dark subjects, who had recently found some time close to running the high-voltage cathode-ray tube. He also drew attention to what is happening Illumination packed photographic film, which is also located near the high-worked tube. These unexpected observations have allowed the great physicist suggested the presence of radiation, which has not previously been known to mankind. In the future, as we know, this is a bold assumption was fully confirmed.
The history of the discovery of antibiotics is a sequence of still more remarkable coincidence. In 1928, a British researcher Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered that some dirty mold has destroyed almost all kinds of bacteria, which he grew to bacteriological experiments. However, rather than to expose laboratory dishes for growing bacteria, sterilization, and start experimenting again, Fleming had thoroughly studied the properties of a dirty mold, which we now known as "Penicillin". Since antibiotics were discovered, which made a revolution in medicine.
Opening of "Viagra" was, apparently, the third great "accidental" discovery in medicine. This is evidenced by the fact that all the discoveries, which are mentioned above, were awarded the Nobel Prize. The same high award in autumn 1998 were awarded the researchers who discovered, among other things, the properties of the drug "
Viagra".
The history of "Viagra" has started in 1992 in the UK, in the village Pfayzers Sandwich in the course of pharmaceutical research firm Pfizer. The researchers conducted clinical trials of new medicinal substance - sildenafil citrate, which was developed as a means to treat certain heart ailments. Scientists had hoped that sildenafil citrate will increase the blood flow to the heart muscle and reduce blood pressure. However, it was observed that
sildenafil citrate has no significant effect either on blood circulation in the heart muscle (myocardium), or on blood pressure. At the same time revealed that many male patients who participated in the study refused to return the pills sildenafil, despite the end of testing. The reason for failure in all these patients had one - they all pointed at his dramatic improvement of the quality of erections. Thus, despite the minimal impact of the new drugs on blood circulation in the myocardium, sildenafil caused significant blood flow to the male genitals.
Researchers at pharmaceutical company Pfizer reacted to this unexpected property of sildenafil citrate with due care and were able to recognize in it a powerful tool to combat erectile dysfunction. A new drug called "Viagra" - the name was born as if the merger of the words "Vigor" (power, energy, force) and the Niagara - the most powerful waterfall in North America.
Since 1993, a prolonged clinical trials needed to confirm the properties of "Viagra". As a result of these tests has been proven highly effective "Viagra" for impotence treatment and high safety of this drug. And as a logical final - March 27, 1998 U.S. Department of Food and Drug approved the use of "Viagra".