Ten Medications That Changed the World

People have swallowed elixirs, inhaled vapors, and applied ointments in the name of healing for millennia. Ancient civilizations used herbal brews, mineral concoctions, and mysterious potions with varying success. But in the last two centuries, scientific advancement transformed medicine from folklore into a precision field. A select few drugs have not only alleviated suffering but revolutionized the way we understand and treat disease.

Here are 10 remarkable drugs that changed the world—along with some surprising facts about each one.

1. Penicillin: The Accidental Savior

In 1928, Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming noticed that a mold (Penicillium notatum) had killed bacteria in a petri dish. That observation led to the development of penicillin, the first true antibiotic.

Before penicillin, bacterial infections like strep throat, syphilis, and pneumonia were often fatal. The drug became widely available during World War II and saved countless soldiers from dying of infected wounds.

Surprising Fact:
Mass production of penicillin only became possible thanks to moldy cantaloupes. Scientists discovered a strain on a cantaloupe in Peoria, Illinois that produced 200 times more penicillin than Fleming’s original mold.

2. Aspirin: The Ancient Remedy with Modern Impact

Aspirin’s active ingredient, salicylic acid, was derived from willow bark and used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks to reduce pain and fever. But it wasn’t until 1899 that the German company Bayer synthesized acetylsalicylic acid, branding it as Aspirin.

Today, aspirin is used for more than just headaches. It plays a vital role in preventing heart attacks and strokes by reducing blood clotting.

Surprising Fact:
Aspirin is one of the most widely used medications globally, with over 100 billion tablets consumed each year.

3. Insulin: Turning a Death Sentence into a Lifeline

Before insulin was discovered in 1921 by Canadian researchers Frederick Banting and Charles Best, a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes was essentially a death sentence. Starvation diets were the only option to prolong life—briefly.

Insulin therapy transformed diabetes into a manageable condition, allowing millions to live long, full lives. It remains one of the most vital hormones administered in medicine today.

Surprising Fact:
Banting sold the insulin patent to the University of Toronto for just $1, saying, “Insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world.”

4. Vaccines: The Ultimate Preventative Medicine

While vaccines are not a “drug” in the traditional sense, their medical impact is so profound they deserve a place on this list. Edward Jenner’s development of the smallpox vaccine in 1796 paved the way for modern immunology. Since then, vaccines have eradicated or dramatically reduced diseases like polio, measles, and diphtheria.

Surprising Fact:
Smallpox remains the only human disease to be completely eradicated, thanks entirely to global vaccination efforts.

5. Oral Contraceptives: Reproductive Autonomy in a Pill

Introduced in 1960, the birth control pill was a revolutionary innovation in both medicine and society. By controlling ovulation through synthetic hormones, oral contraceptives gave women unprecedented control over reproduction, catalyzing profound social changes.

It also had medical benefits, helping regulate menstrual cycles and reduce risks for some cancers.

Surprising Fact:
The development of the Pill was driven by feminist activist Margaret Sanger and biologist Gregory Pincus—an unusual collaboration between science and social reform.

6. Chlorpromazine: Ushering in the Psychiatric Revolution

Prior to the 1950s, treatment for mental illness often meant institutionalization and extreme measures like electroshock therapy or lobotomy. That changed with the introduction of chlorpromazine (Thorazine), the first antipsychotic drug.

Initially developed as a surgical sedative, it was soon found to calm patients with schizophrenia and mania, laying the foundation for modern psychiatry.

Surprising Fact:
Chlorpromazine’s success helped to deinstitutionalize mental health care, drastically reducing the number of long-term patients in psychiatric hospitals.

7. AZT (Zidovudine): Turning the Tide Against HIV/AIDS

In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was a mysterious and deadly illness. When AZT was approved in 1987, it became the first drug to show any effectiveness against the virus. Though far from a cure, it marked a turning point in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Subsequent drugs, often used in combination therapy, have turned what was once a terminal disease into a chronic, manageable condition.

Surprising Fact:
AZT was originally developed in the 1960s as a cancer drug but was shelved due to lack of effectiveness—until it was repurposed for HIV.

8. Statins: Silencing the Silent Killer

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Introduced in the late 1980s, statins (such as atorvastatin and simvastatin) lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Millions take them daily, and their widespread use has contributed to a decline in heart disease mortality rates over the past few decades.

Surprising Fact:
Statins are among the most prescribed drugs in history, yet their discovery was inspired by a mold fungus found in Japanese rice fields.

9. Morphine: The Gold Standard for Pain Relief

Derived from the opium poppy, morphine was first isolated in 1804 and became the go-to analgesic for severe pain, especially in battlefield medicine. It remains a critical drug for palliative care, surgery, and trauma.

However, morphine also paved the way for the opioid epidemic due to its addictive nature and the development of more potent synthetic opioids.

Surprising Fact:
Morphine was named after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, due to its sedative effects.

10. Metformin: The Diabetes Workhorse

Though first synthesized in the 1920s, metformin gained traction in the 1950s as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. It works by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing liver glucose production.

Today, metformin is a frontline drug for Type 2 diabetes and is being studied for potential benefits in aging and cancer treatment.

Surprising Fact:
Metformin is derived from a natural compound found in the French lilac (Galega officinalis), a plant used in medieval herbal medicine.