The History of Aspirin: from Willow Bark to Thomas Edison in the 20th Century (P2.391)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Examine the history of Aspirin in the 20th century. BACKGROUND: Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), derived from willow bark, is a mainstay of neurologists for prevention of stroke. Commonplace today, the history of Aspirin portrays a fascinating story of drug discovery among historical events. DESIGN/METHODS: Pubmed review and texts: “Aspirin: The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug” (Jeffreys 2005), and “The Aspirin Wars: Money, Medicine, and 100 Years of Rampant Competition.” (Mann, Plummer 1991). RESULTS: The discovery of ASA at Bayer Laboratories in 1897 was initially attributed to chemist Felix Hoffman. Historical review since credited the leadership of Arthur Eichengrun, Jewish chemist and head of Bayer’s pharmaceutical research division; including a letter sent by Eichengrun from a concentration camp during WWII. In 1899, ASA was first branded as Aspirin - taken from the “acetyl” derivative and its synthesis from Spiraea ulmaria (meadowsweet). Aspirin soon became a profitable over-the-counter antipyretic and treatment for “rheumatism,” bolstered by the Spanish Flu Pandemic. Aspirin’s U.S. patent expired in 1917 and competition heightened. A WWI conspiracy known as the “Great Phenol Plot,” involved German spies surreptitiously dealing with Thomas Edison to divert excess phenol, used to produce his phonograph, to the production of salicylic acid. In 1950, general practitioner Lawrence Craven published initial observations of ASA as an antithrombotic, having observed excessive bleeding in tonsillectomy patients chewing Aspergum for pain relief. His observations that daily Aspirin prevented MI remained obscure until confirmed years later. The first multicenter “Controlled Trial of Aspirin in Cerebral Ischemia” led by neurologist, WS Fields, was published in 1977. By the 1990s, the Antiplatelet Trialists’ Collaboration definitely established Aspirin in the prevention of stroke. CONCLUSION: The evolution of Aspirin in the 20th century aligned with historical events leading to its place as one of the most widely used drugs in history.

Disclosure: Dr. Southerland has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Neurology podcast.