Objekt 2140
From dyes to pharmaceuticals
Description
The Sandoz company, which mainly specialised in dyes, began to build up
a pharmaceutical research department in 1917, thereby setting an essential
course for the future. As early as 1921, an ergot compound against post-partum
bleeding called Gynergen was launched. In the course of further
research on the ergot fungus, Albert Hofmann hit upon the hallucinogenic
effect of LSD in 1943. In the post-war period, the pharmaceutical
division of Sandoz soon developed into that company’s strongest business
segment. In 1995, the company divested itself of its dyestuff chemicals.
Object description
Gynergen
manufacturer: Sandoz AG
Basel, after 1921
cardboard, glass, wax, active substance
donated by Novartis International AG, Basel (packaging), on loan from Pharmaziemuseum Basel (bottle)
Inv. 1980.332.a. and Inv. 2019.80.