Mass Production of Penicillin

1943 - Institutional Event

One of the first and most widely used antibiotics, penicillin led the way to major changes in treating and preventing bacterial infection. Its discovery is usually attributed to Sir Alexander Fleming, who observed in 1928 that Penicillium notatum  mold produced a substance that killed several disease-causing bacteria.

Intensive research didn’t begin for more than 10 years, however. Then British and American scientists worked together to find ways of producing penicillin in sufficient quantities to treat Allied soldiers during World War II. Their success greatly reduced the number of deaths from D-Day wounds and amputations. As production increased, the cost of a dose dropped from almost priceless in 1940 to $20 in early 1943 to 55 cents by 1946.

The development of penicillin saved thousands of lives among the Allied forces during World War II.