The Nottingham local who discovered Ibuprofen worked after curing his own hangover has passed away at 95.
Dr Stewart Adams passed away on Wednesday 30 January at Queens Medical Centre, his son confirmed.
Dr Adams worked on trials of Ibuprofen for 10 years after graduating with a degree in pharmacy at the University of Nottingham.
He knew the drug could be a potential new painkiller when it cured his hangover the morning of an important speech (something students use the painkiller for constantly).
“I was first up to speak and I had a bit of a headache after a night out with friends. So I took a 600mg dose, just to be sure, and I found it was very effective.” Dr Adams said in 2015.
Now one of the worlds most popular painkillers, Dr Adams discovery has been an over the counter drug since 1983.
He was awarded an OBE in 1987 and was a father of two and grandfather of six who was described by those who knew him as a ‘genuinely nice guy’.
Which painkiller are you most likely to use to cure your student hangover? #journorequests #journo #cbjnews #journalist #Ibuprofen #paracetamol #stewartadams
— Katie Ansell (@katie_ansell) February 1, 2019
IBUPROFEN DISCOVERY TIMELINE
1950s: Boots Pharmacy began working to find a drug with no side effects that could treat rheumatoid arthritis
1961 – After hundreds of different compounds are made and tested, a patent is filed for 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid – what was later renamed ibuprofen.
1966 – Edinburgh hosted clinical trials of ibuprofen, which proved its anti-inflammatory effect
1969 – Ibuprofen is launched as a prescription drug in the UK
1983 – Ibuprofen’s outstanding safety record allows it to become available over the counter
By Katie Ansell