October 12, 2005 -- There is no doubt that Cimetidine (Tagamet), the first blockbuster drug ever, was a true breakthrough medicine. It had a novel target, and it was a novel compound. It also found a novel mechanism of action by interfering with a type of histamine signaling that was not known until then. But when a better, less expensive treatment for ulcers came along, it was ridiculed. What does this say about the health care industry? We discuss this very interesting case...
