Patent No. 4785 (Japan)
The Japanese chemist Jokichi Takamine is credited with being the first to isolate and purify a human hormone. In 1901, he successfully isolated the crystalline hormone adrenalin (epinephrine), making commercial preparation possible. He obtained patent rights to the manufacturing method he invented. Epinephrine is used to treat symptoms of cardiac arrest, the treatment of shock, asthma and glaucoma.
In our 'Patents that have made a difference' series, adrenalin stands out as having truly improved the practice of medicine, saving umpteen lives.
