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{{Short description|Co-inventor of Prozac}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
|name = Klaus Schmiegel
| name = Klaus Schmiegel
|image = <!--(filename only)-->
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|6|28|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|6|28|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Chemnitz, Germany
| birth_place = Chemnitz, Germany
|death_date =
| death_date =
|death_place =
| death_place =
| citizenship =
|residence = [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana|IN]]
|citizenship =
| nationality = German
|nationality = German
| ethnicity =
|ethnicity =
| fields = [[Chemistry]]
|fields = [[Chemistry]]
| workplaces =
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| alma_mater = [[University of Michigan]] ([[B.S.]])<BR>[[Dartmouth College]] ([[Master of Arts|A.M.]])<BR>[[Stanford University]] ([[Ph.D]])
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|workplaces =
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|alma_mater = [[University of Michigan]]<BR>[[Dartmouth College]]<BR>[[Stanford University]]
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| doctoral_students =
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|academic_advisors =
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| notable_students =
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|doctoral_students =
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| known_for = Inventing [[fluoxetine]], the active ingredient in [[Prozac]]
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|notable_students =
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| author_abbrev_bot =
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|known_for = Inventing [[fluoxetine]], the active ingredient in [[Prozac]]
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| author_abbrev_zoo =
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|author_abbrev_bot =
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| influences =
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| awards = [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]], 1999<BR>American Innovator Award, 1999
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|awards = [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]], 1999<BR>American Innovator Award, 1999
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'''Klaus Schmiegel''' (born June 28, 1939), is a [[Germans|German]] chemist best known for his work in [[organic chemistry]], which led to the invention of [[Prozac]], a widely used [[antidepressant]].
'''Klaus Schmiegel''' (born June 28, 1939) is most famous for his work in [[organic chemistry]], which led to the invention of [[Prozac]], a widely used [[antidepressant]]. Born in Chemitz, Germany, he moved to the U.S. in 1951 to continue his education. After he finished his schooling, Schmiegel joined [[Eli Lilly and Company|Eli Lilly]] as a senior organic chemist; he worked there from 1968 until his retirement in 1993. There, he collaborated with [[Bryan Molloy]] to create a new group of compounds. One of them, [[fluoxetine hydrochloride]], became the [[selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor]] (SSRI) used in the antidepressant medication, Prozac. The drug, approved by the [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) in 1988, has revolutionized treatment for [[Major depressive disorder|depression]]. In 1999, Schmiegel and Molloy were inducted into the [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]] and given the American Innovator Award. Throughout his career, Schmiegel garnered eighteen [[patent]]s related to the synthesis of compounds.


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Early life and education===
===Early life and education===
Klaus Schmiegel was born in Chemnitz, Germany on June 28, 1939. After he immigrated to the United States in 1951, Schmiegel received a [[B.S.]] in [[chemistry]] from the [[University of Michigan]], an [[Master of Arts|A.M.]] in organic chemistry from [[Dartmouth College]], and a [[Ph.D]] in organic chemistry from [[Stanford University]]. His strong educational background secured him a prestigious position as a senior organic chemist at Eli Lilly, a prominent [[pharmaceutical company]].
Klaus Schmiegel was born in [[Chemnitz]], Germany on June 28, 1939. After he immigrated to the [[United States]] in 1951, Schmiegel received a [[B.S.]] in [[chemistry]] from the [[University of Michigan]], an [[Master of Arts|A.M.]] in organic chemistry from [[Dartmouth College]], and a [[Ph.D.]] in organic chemistry from [[Stanford University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Klaus Schmiegel {{!}} Lemelson |url=https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/klaus-schmiegel |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=lemelson.mit.edu}}</ref> His strong educational background secured him a prestigious position as a senior organic chemist at Eli Lilly, a prominent [[pharmaceutical company]].


===Primary accomplishment===
===Primary accomplishment===
At [[Eli Lilly and Company|Eli Lilly]] in the 1960s, scientists Klaus Schmiegel and Bryan Molloy, with the help of David Wong and Ray Fuller, searched for a compound to combat depression. Because depression and similar psychiatric disorders are associated with reduced [[serotonin]] levels, they focused their approach on prohibiting serotonin reuptake. During a regular [[nerve signal]] transmission, a [[neurotransmitter]] such as serotonin travels from a [[presynaptic neuron]] to a postsynaptic neuron; the neurotransmitter returns to the presynaptic neuron after fulfilling its function, the [[reuptake]] process. Therefore, slowing and diminishing serotonin reuptake boosts serotonin levels in the brain.
At [[Eli Lilly and Company|Eli Lilly]] in the 1960s, Schmiegel and [[Bryan Molloy]], with the help of [[David T. Wong|David Wong]], searched for a compound to combat depression. Because depression and similar psychiatric disorders are associated with reduced [[serotonin]] levels{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}, they focused their approach on prohibiting serotonin reuptake. During a regular [[nerve signal]] transmission, a [[neurotransmitter]] such as serotonin travels from a [[presynaptic neuron]] to a postsynaptic neuron; the neurotransmitter returns to the presynaptic neuron after fulfilling its function, the [[reuptake]] process. Therefore, slowing and diminishing serotonin reuptake boosts serotonin levels in the brain.


The scientists based their search on the template of the [[antihistamine]] drug [[diphenhydramine hydrochloride]], commonly known as [[Benadryl]]. After many failures, the research team synthesized a group of compounds called aryloxyphenylpropylamines. Upon testing, a member of the group, [[fluoxetine hydrochloride]], proved to affect only the neurotransmitter serotonin. This compound became the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and the active ingredient in the vastly popular and effective drug [[Prozac]].
The scientists based their search on the template of the [[antihistamine]] drug [[diphenhydramine hydrochloride]], commonly known as [[Benadryl]]. After many failures, the research team synthesized a group of compounds called aryloxyphenylpropylamines. Upon testing, a member of the group, [[fluoxetine hydrochloride]], proved to affect only the neurotransmitter serotonin. This compound became the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and the active ingredient in the vastly popular and effective drug [[Prozac]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chemical & Engineering News: Top Pharmaceuticals: Prozac |url=https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/coverstory/83/8325/8325prozac.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=pubsapp.acs.org}}</ref>


===Prozac, the "Wonder Drug"===
===Prozac, the "Drug Of Despair"===
Eli Lilly recognized the potential of its new drug, but the company first tested it as a [[high blood pressure]] medication, an [[anti-obesity drug]], and a remedy for severe depression. After those testing failures, Eli Lilly succeeded in treating five mildly depressed people; fluoxetine had found its niche. Eli Lilly announced its findings in 1974 and launched Prozac in 1987 after receiving FDA approval.
Eli Lilly recognized the potential of its new drug, but the company first tested it as a [[high blood pressure]] medication, an [[anti-obesity drug]], and a remedy for severe depression. After those testing failures, Eli Lilly succeeded in treating five mildly depressed people; fluoxetine had found its niche. Eli Lilly announced its findings in 1974 and launched Prozac in 1987 after receiving FDA approval.


The “wonder drug” replaced earlier medications, [[tricyclic antidepressant]]s, which were less effective with serious side effects such as [[headache]]s, [[blurred vision]] and [[hypertension]]. By 1999, Prozac was bringing in $2.5 billion per year, 25% of Eli Lilly’s revenue. The drug helped erase the stigma of depression, inspiring celebrities and public figures to flaunt rather than hide their sufferings.
The “wonder drug” replaced earlier medications, [[tricyclic antidepressant]]s, which were less effective with serious side effects such as [[headache]]s, [[blurred vision]] and [[hypertension]]. By 1999, Prozac was bringing in $2.5 billion per year, 25% of Eli Lilly's revenue. The drug helped erase the stigma of depression, inspiring celebrities and public figures to flaunt rather than hide their sufferings.


Prozac, which is recognized by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine as a “Product of the Century,” has few side effects; it has been widely beneficial for those suffering from depression, [[obsessive compulsive disorder]]s, [[panic disorder]]s, [[eating disorder]]s and [[premenstrual dysphoric disorder]]s. However, some contend that Prozac has been doled out too liberally—it has even been prescribed for animals. Peer drugs, including [[Zoloft]] and [[Paxil]], which are also SSRIs, have experienced similar successes.
Prozac, which is recognized by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine as a “Product of the Century,” has few side effects; it has been widely beneficial for those suffering from depression, [[obsessive compulsive disorder]]s, [[panic disorder]]s, [[eating disorder]]s and [[premenstrual dysphoric disorder]]s. However, some contend that Prozac has been doled out too liberally—it has even been prescribed for animals. Peer drugs, including [[Zoloft]] and [[Paxil]], which are also SSRIs, have experienced similar successes.


Unfortunately for Eli Lilly, its patent on Prozac expired in 2001, causing massive revenue losses. The company hopes to bounce back with its newest drug, [[Cymbalta]], a [[painkiller]] and an antidepressant combined.
Unfortunately for Eli Lilly, its patent on Prozac expired in 2001, causing massive revenue losses. The company hopes to bounce back with its newest drug, [[Cymbalta]], a [[painkiller]] and an antidepressant combined.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Anna |date=2007-05-13 |title=Eternal sunshine |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/may/13/socialcare.medicineandhealth |access-date=2023-07-06 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref>


===Other scientific work===
===Other scientific work===
While Schmiegel is listed as an [[inventor]] on all eighteen of his patents, his patents are assigned to his company, Eli Lilly. As detailed by the [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nphParser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearchbool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=schmiegel+klaus&FIELD1=INNM&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=PALL list of patents] from the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] website, Schmiegel's chemical work concentrated on supplements to bolster the health of animals (growth promotion), weight control agents, and antidepressants.
Schmiegel is listed as an [[inventor]] on all eighteen of his patents, and his patents are assigned to his company, Eli Lilly. Schmiegel's chemical work concentrated on supplements to bolster the health of animals (growth promotion), weight control agents, and antidepressants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Klaus K. Schmiegel Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search |url=https://patents.justia.com/inventor/klaus-k-schmiegel |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=patents.justia.com}}</ref>


===Awards and recognition===
===Awards and recognition===
In 1999, both Schmiegel and Molloy were inducted into the [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]] for their fluoxetine compound that revolutionized depression treatment. In addition, the same year, the pair received the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]]'s Ronald H. Brown American Innovator award, honoring their great contribution to society.
In 1999, both Schmiegel and Molloy were inducted into the [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]] for their fluoxetine compound that revolutionized depression treatment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-06 |title=NIHF Inductee Klaus Schmiegel Invented Prozac Medication |url=https://www.invent.org/inductees/klaus-k-schmiegel |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.invent.org |language=en}}</ref> In addition, the same year, the pair received the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]]'s Ronald H. Brown American Innovator award, honoring their great contribution to society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United States Patent and Trademark Office 1999 Annual Report |url=https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/about/stratplan/ar/1999annualreport.pdf |access-date=July 6, 2023}}</ref>


===Later years===
===Later years===
Line 61: Line 61:


==References==
==References==
⚫
{{Reflist}}{{authority control}}
*''Four American Inventors to Be Honored for Revolutionary.'' FDCH Federal Department and Agency Documents. 12 Oct. 1999. LexisNexis. Academic. University of Pennsylvania Lib., Philadelphia, PA. 11 Nov. 2008. < http://www.lexisnexis.com/>.
*''Lilly Scientists Honored for Invention of Prozac; Molloy, Schmiegel To Be Recognized by U.S. Department of Commerce.'' PR Newswire. October 13, 1999. Financial News. LexisNexis. Academic. University of Pennsylvania Lib., Philadelphia, PA. 11 Nov. 2008. <http://www.lexisnexis.com/>.
*Nicolaou, K.C., and Tamsyn Montagnon. ''Molecules That Changed the World.'' Weinhem, Germany: Wiley-VCH, 2008.

==External links==
*[http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nphParser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearchbool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=schmiegel+klaus&FIELD1=INNM&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=PALL USPTO Patent Database]
*[http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/schmiegel.html MIT Inventor of the Week Archive for Klas Schmiegel—Prozac]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/may/13/socialcare.medicineandhealth Anna Moore’s ''Eternal Sunshine'' from ''The Observer Online'']
*[http://www.law.gwu.edu/Academics/FocusAreas/IP/Pages/Prozac.aspx ''Arthur Whale and Prozac'' from GWU Law Website]

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{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmiegel, Klaus}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmiegel, Klaus}}
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[[Category:Eli Lilly and Company people]]
[[Category:Eli Lilly and Company people]]
[[Category:Organic chemists]]
[[Category:Organic chemists]]
[[Category:University of Michigan alumni]]
[[Category:University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Dartmouth College alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 20:59, 28 March 2024

Klaus Schmiegel
Born (1939-06-28) June 28, 1939 (age 85)
Chemnitz, Germany
NationalityGerman
Alma materUniversity of Michigan (B.S.)
Dartmouth College (A.M.)
Stanford University (Ph.D)
Known forInventing fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac
AwardsNational Inventors Hall of Fame, 1999
American Innovator Award, 1999
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry

Klaus Schmiegel (born June 28, 1939), is a German chemist best known for his work in organic chemistry, which led to the invention of Prozac, a widely used antidepressant.

Biography

[edit]

Early life and education

[edit]

Klaus Schmiegel was born in Chemnitz, Germany on June 28, 1939. After he immigrated to the United States in 1951, Schmiegel received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Michigan, an A.M. in organic chemistry from Dartmouth College, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Stanford University.[1] His strong educational background secured him a prestigious position as a senior organic chemist at Eli Lilly, a prominent pharmaceutical company.

Primary accomplishment

[edit]

At Eli Lilly in the 1960s, Schmiegel and Bryan Molloy, with the help of David Wong, searched for a compound to combat depression. Because depression and similar psychiatric disorders are associated with reduced serotonin levels[citation needed], they focused their approach on prohibiting serotonin reuptake. During a regular nerve signal transmission, a neurotransmitter such as serotonin travels from a presynaptic neuron to a postsynaptic neuron; the neurotransmitter returns to the presynaptic neuron after fulfilling its function, the reuptake process. Therefore, slowing and diminishing serotonin reuptake boosts serotonin levels in the brain.

The scientists based their search on the template of the antihistamine drug diphenhydramine hydrochloride, commonly known as Benadryl. After many failures, the research team synthesized a group of compounds called aryloxyphenylpropylamines. Upon testing, a member of the group, fluoxetine hydrochloride, proved to affect only the neurotransmitter serotonin. This compound became the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and the active ingredient in the vastly popular and effective drug Prozac.[2]

Prozac, the "Drug Of Despair"

[edit]

Eli Lilly recognized the potential of its new drug, but the company first tested it as a high blood pressure medication, an anti-obesity drug, and a remedy for severe depression. After those testing failures, Eli Lilly succeeded in treating five mildly depressed people; fluoxetine had found its niche. Eli Lilly announced its findings in 1974 and launched Prozac in 1987 after receiving FDA approval.

The “wonder drug” replaced earlier medications, tricyclic antidepressants, which were less effective with serious side effects such as headaches, blurred vision and hypertension. By 1999, Prozac was bringing in $2.5 billion per year, 25% of Eli Lilly's revenue. The drug helped erase the stigma of depression, inspiring celebrities and public figures to flaunt rather than hide their sufferings.

Prozac, which is recognized by Fortune magazine as a “Product of the Century,” has few side effects; it has been widely beneficial for those suffering from depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, panic disorders, eating disorders and premenstrual dysphoric disorders. However, some contend that Prozac has been doled out too liberally—it has even been prescribed for animals. Peer drugs, including Zoloft and Paxil, which are also SSRIs, have experienced similar successes.

Unfortunately for Eli Lilly, its patent on Prozac expired in 2001, causing massive revenue losses. The company hopes to bounce back with its newest drug, Cymbalta, a painkiller and an antidepressant combined.[3]

Other scientific work

[edit]

Schmiegel is listed as an inventor on all eighteen of his patents, and his patents are assigned to his company, Eli Lilly. Schmiegel's chemical work concentrated on supplements to bolster the health of animals (growth promotion), weight control agents, and antidepressants.[4]

Awards and recognition

[edit]

In 1999, both Schmiegel and Molloy were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for their fluoxetine compound that revolutionized depression treatment.[5] In addition, the same year, the pair received the U.S. Department of Commerce's Ronald H. Brown American Innovator award, honoring their great contribution to society.[6]

Later years

[edit]

Schmiegel worked for Eli Lilly until his retirement in 1993. Though Schmiegel is retired, he still lives in Indianapolis near the Eli Lilly headquarters.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Klaus Schmiegel | Lemelson". lemelson.mit.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  2. ^ "Chemical & Engineering News: Top Pharmaceuticals: Prozac". pubsapp.acs.org. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  3. ^ Moore, Anna (2007-05-13). "Eternal sunshine". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  4. ^ "Klaus K. Schmiegel Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  5. ^ "NIHF Inductee Klaus Schmiegel Invented Prozac Medication". www.invent.org. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  6. ^ "United States Patent and Trademark Office 1999 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved July 6, 2023.
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