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From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Origin of Valium
Message-ID: <19405@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Apr-84 10:37:12 EST
Article-I.D.: wivax.19405
Posted: Tue Apr 17 10:37:12 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Apr-84 07:25:54 EST
References: <2700@azure.UUCP>, <6164@gatech.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 16

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