The Economic Times

In 1897, a German chemist while trying to ease his fathers rheumatic pains accidently developed a drug still widely used as an over-the-counter medication around the world: How did Felix Hoffmann invented Aspirin?

In 1897, a German chemist while trying to ease his fathers rheumatic pains accidentally developed a drug still widely used as an over-the-counter medication around the world. Felix Hoffmann synthesized acetylsalicylic acid at Bayer, creating aspirin. The same chemist also synthesized heroin during the same period. The story of aspirin involves chemistry, medicine, patents, marketing and a later dispute over its development.