dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer) (04/17/84)
Benzodiazepine tranquilizers were originally discovered by Hoffman/LaRoche in the late 50's. They are completely synthetic, and bear no primary chemical relationship to any naturally occurring alkaloids, such as whatever's in valerian root. Chlordiazepoxide, Librium, was the first benzodiazepine tested and used in the treatment of anxiety. A few years later, diazepam, Valium, was introduced, mainly as a way for Roche to supplement its flagging sales of Librium. Today, of course, just about every major drug company has twisted the basic benzodiazepine structure a bit to come up with its own Valium clone--they're all more or less the same. -- /Steve Dyer decvax!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca
carter@gatech.UUCP (Carter Bullard) (04/18/84)
You are absolutely correct that Vale was at Hoffman/LaRoche when he first synthesized the benzodiazepines. I fear that I was in the twilight zone when I said Ciba/Giegy. Many Thanks -- Carter Bullard School of ICS, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA 30332 CSNet: Carter @ GaTech ARPA: Carter.GaTech @ CSNet-Relay uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,rlgvax,sb1,unmvax,ut-ngp,ut-sally}!gatech!carter