1960–1969

Laboratory technician measuring out powdered chemicals http://phil.cdc.gov/phil.​

Timeline of key medical research achievements in the 1960s:

1960 

• Methicillin launched – active against many resistant bacteria
• Metronidazole (Rhône-Poulenc) for parasitic and anaerobic bacterial infections

1961 

• Allopurinol (Wellcome) developed for gout and arthritis

1962 

• 1961–3 first benzodiazepines (Roche) for depression
• First oral contraceptive launched – Anovlar (Schering Health Care)
• Azathioprine (Wellcome) patented for immuno-suppression

1963 

• Ampicillin (Beecham) major antibiotic discovered
• Betamethasone (Glaxo) launched for eczema 

1964 

• Ibuprofen/Flurbiprofen (Boots) for arthritis and inflammation

1965 

• Propranolol (ICI/Zeneca) a beta-blocker for heart disease

1967 

• First heart transplant by Christiaan Barnard in South Africa

1968 

• Sodium cromoglycate (Fisons) breakthrough in asthma

1969 

• Salbutamol (Glaxo) introduced for asthma

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On to 1970–1979