About Klaus Schmiegel
Klaus Schmiegel (born June 28, 1939), is a German chemist best known for his work in organic chemistry, which led to the invention of Prozac, a widely used antidepressant. == Biography == === Early life and education === Klaus Schmiegel was born in Chemnitz, Germany on June 28, 1939. After he immigrated to the United States in 1951, Schmiegel received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Michigan, an A.M. in organic chemistry from Dartmouth College, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Stanford University. His strong educational background secured him a prestigious position as a senior organic chemist at Eli Lilly, a prominent pharmaceutical company. === Primary accomplishment === At Eli Lilly in the 1960s, Schmiegel and Bryan Molloy, with the help of David Wong, searched for a compound to combat depression. Because depression and similar psychiatric disorders are associated with reduced serotonin levels, they focused their approach on prohibiting serotonin reuptake. During a regular nerve signal transmission, a neurotransmitter such as serotonin travels from a presynaptic neuron to a postsynaptic neuron; the neurotransmitter returns to the presynaptic neuron after fulfilling its function, the reuptake process. Therefore, slowing and diminishing serotonin reuptake boosts serotonin levels in the brain. The scientists based their search on the template of the antihistamine drug diphenhydramine hydrochloride, commonly known as Benadryl. After many failures, the research team synthesized a group of compounds called aryloxyphenylpropylamines.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.