Old Drug, New Trick

Sometimes old drug, like the case of aspirin, may be rejuvenated to help prevent another illness. Steven Shoelson, a Harvard researcher, postulates that inflammation contributes to the formation of diabetes mellitus. He also found in the basement of Harvard library a German medical article, published in 1876, that suggested salsalate, a medication similar to aspirin, might improve diabetics' ability to control blood sugar. He has since then worked with his colleagues on several studies that showed promising therapeutic effect of salsalate on diabetes mellitus. Now the National Institutes of Health is funding an ongoing large study to validate earlier results.



If Steven Shoelson is right, then diabetics would have a cheap ammunition to fight this costly disease.