Medicine's first Nobel laureate

Medicine's first Nobel laureate was Emil von Behring (1854-1917). He was the discoverer of diphtheria antitoxin in 1890 and attained a great reputation in his lifetime but also was a subject of controversy:

Behring’s unabashed pursuit of financial rewards for his efforts — unusual in that era—drew much criticism. One of the first modern medical entrepreneurs, he aggressively sought to patent his discoveries, and profited handsomely from their applications. This conflicted with the more genteel notions that prevailed at the time, which venerated physicians as selfless servants of mankind.

For all his accomplishments, Behring was a deeply troubled man. He suffered from frequent bouts of profound depression, and was institutionalised several times.

The great discoverer of serum therapy died of pneumonia in Marburg on March 31, 1917.

References:
Emil von Behring (1854-1917): Medicine's first Nobel laureate. Singapore Med J. 2011 Jan;52(1):1-2 (free full text PDF).

Image source: Emil Adolf von Behring, Wikipedia, public domain.

FDA: Rotarix rotavirus vaccine contains DNA from a "harmless" pig virus and should not be used

GlaxoSmithKline confirmed that the pig virus, porcine circovirus type 1 or PCV-1, has been in the vaccine since it was developed.

75% of U.S. doctors prescribe the three-dose RotaTeq vaccine, made by Merck, which was approved in 2006.

Electron micrograph of Rotaviruses. Image source: Wikipedia, Environmental Protection Agency, public domain.

Rotavirus-related diarrhea used to cause 70,000 hospitalizations per year in the U.S. before the introduction of the vaccines. The first vaccine against the virus called RotaShield was withdrawn from the market due to reports of an intestinal blockage (intussusception) associated with its use.

References:
Pig Virus DNA Found in Rotavirus Vaccine. WebMD.

Image source: GSKsource.com.

Now There’s Pig Virus DNA in Merck’s Rotavirus Vaccine, Too. WSJ, 2010.

Updated: 05/06/2010