Pharmacy Time Capsules

2009 (First Quarter)

1984—Twenty-five years ago:

• Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration passed.  The major provisions of the law:
• expedited the availability of less costly generic drugs by permitting FDA to approve applications to market generic versions of brand-name drugs without repeating the research done to prove them safe and effective.
• provided brand-name companies up to five years additional patent protection for new medicines to make up for time in FDA's approval process.

• Schering Corporation budgeted $4 million for first “Ask Your Pharmacist” campaign to encourage the public to ask their pharmacists about their medicines

1959—Fifty years ago

• American Hospital Formulary Service launched by American Society of Hospital (now Health-Systems) Pharmacists

1934—Seventy-five year ago

• The American Pharmaceutical (now Pharmacists) Association headquarters building, the American Institute of Pharmacy, on the National Mall in Washington, DC. was dedicated

1909—One hundred years ago

• Opium Exclusion Act of 1909 prohibited the importation of opium to the United States.

By: Dennis B. Worthen  Lloyd Scholar, Lloyd Library and Museum, Cincinnati, OH

One of a series contributed by the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, a unique non-profit society dedicated to assuring that the contributions of your profession endure as a part of America's history.  Membership offers the satisfaction of helping continue this work on behalf of pharmacy, and brings five or more historical publications to your door each year.  To learn more, check out:  www.aihp.org