Early evidence of medical knowledge
One of the oldest surviving documents of medical practice is the Ebers Papyrus, dating back to 1550 BCE. It contains extensive descriptions of diseases as well as formulations based on plant and mineral substances. This work is considered one of the earliest systematic records of pharmaceutical application.
In the 1st century CE, De Materia Medica followed as a significant compendium of medicinal substances. For many centuries, it served as a foundational reference for remedies and their use.
The emergence of pharmacies and early regulation/h2>
A decisive step toward institutionalized pharmaceutical care was marked by the first known pharmacy in Baghdad in the 9th century. This development initiated the organized preparation and distribution of medicinal products.
In 1231, Emperor Frederick II introduced medical regulations in Sicily mandating the separation of medical practice and the preparation of medicines. This early form of state regulation is regarded as an important milestone in establishing quality standards and patient safety.
The rise of chemistry and scientific progress
From the 16th century onward, chemical substances increasingly entered medical practice. Pharmacy gradually evolved from alchemy into a discipline grounded in the natural sciences.
In the 19th century, preventive vaccination introduced an entirely new approach: diseases were no longer solely treated but actively prevented. The development of modern vaccines laid the foundation for numerous medical advances.
With the (re)discovery of penicillin in 1928, the antibiotic era began. Infectious diseases that had previously often been fatal became treatable for the first time.
Industrialization and biotechnology
In the 20th century, industrialization fundamentally transformed pharmaceutical production. From the 1980s onward, industrial manufacturing processes, biotechnological methods, and the genetic engineering of active substances — such as insulin — significantly shaped pharmaceutical development.
This transformation marked the shift from manual preparation of individual formulations to globally standardized production processes under strictly regulated conditions.
mRNA technology and future perspectives
The introduction of mRNA vaccines in 2020 initiated a new phase in vaccine development. This technology allows comparatively rapid and targeted adaptation to emerging pathogens and exemplifies the innovative capacity of modern pharmacy.
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