Metformin, the marvellous survivor

Metformin was first formulated in 1922. But unlike many drugs of the same era which have fallen by the wayside, it has endured, or indeed, thrived.

IN November 2011, I wrote an article entitled Aspirin, the New Wonder Drug for The Star. Aspirin is an ancient drug dating from 400BC, first used by Hippocrates for pain relief. Now it is standard treatment for the secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes, and it is on the threshold of being used for the prevention of certain cancers.