From Apothecary to Alkaloid Pioneer: The Origins of Merck and Modern Drug Discovery Did you know that Merck, one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in the world, played a foundational role in the development of alkaloid chemistry, laying the groundwork for modern medicinal chemistry and compound screening?  The story begins in 1668, when Friedrich Jacob Merck purchased the Engel-Apotheke (Angel Pharmacy) in Darmstadt, Germany. However, the real transformation occurred in 1827, when Heinrich Emanuel Merck…

Toxicology and Preclinical Testing (Animal Models) Today, I would like to share with you the story of another individual who made a remarkable contribution to the history of drug development. The person who laid the basis for modern preclinical animal model tox evaluations was Johann Wepfer (1620–1695).  A Swiss Pioneer of Toxicology and Preclinical Testing (Animal Models).  Long before modern drug development, Wepfer made groundbreaking strides in toxicological analysis. He is best known for his…

Dose Makes The Poison Today I’d like to tell you about a Swiss gentleman named Paracelsus.  Often called the “father” of modern toxicology and pharmacology, Paracelsus was the first to articulate a principle that still underpins toxicology today: “The dose makes the poison.” He argued that no substance is inherently toxic; it all depends on how much of it you take. Even substances we consider harmful can be beneficial in tiny amounts. Paracelsus famously used…

Oldest Pharmacy Florence is world-renowned for its rich cultural heritage, home to Renaissance art, grand architecture, and literary giants like Dante Alighieri. Yet, tucked away in this treasure-filled city lies a lesser-known marvel: the oldest functioning pharmacy in the world. The Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy was founded in 1221 by a Dominican monk who began cultivating herbs to create medicinal balms, tinctures, and perfumes for their monastery and local patients. Officially opened to the public…