Frederick Banting, who had been researching ways of extracting insulin from the pancreas. The boy suffered an allergic reaction to the first injection, but further work improved the extract. A second injection administered a few weeks later was successful.

Banting was then able to produce large quantities of insulin, but the process remained impure until pharmaceutical maker Eli Lilly offered its assistance. Banting cut a deal with the drug company, and insulin came into common use.

For his work, Banting, along with collaborator John James Rickard Mcleod, was awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Source: Wikipedia

Photo: Insulin crystals

This article first appeared on Wired.com Jan. 11, 2007.

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Authors: Tony Long

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