Frank B. Colton
Encyclopedia
Frank Benjamin Colton American
chemist who first synthesized norethynodrel
, the progestin
used in Enovid
, the first oral contraceptive, at G. D. Searle & Company
in Skokie, Illinois
in 1952.
Frank B. Colton was born in Poland
and immigrated to the United States in 1934. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Northwestern University
in 1945 and 1946 and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago
in 1950. He was a research fellow at the Mayo Foundation from 1949 to 1951 working with Nobel Laureate
Edward C. Kendall to develop an improved synthesis of cortisone
.
In 1951 he joined Searle as a senior research chemist. In 1952 Colton synthesized the progestin norethynodrel (an isomer
of norethindrone), which combined with the estrogen
mestranol
as Enovid was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1956 for menstrual disorders and in 1960 as the first oral contraceptive. In 1953 he synthesized norethandrolone
, which as Nilevar was approved in 1956 as the first oral anabolic steroid
. In 1954 Colton and Paul D. Klimstra synthesized the progestin ethynodiol diacetate
, which combined with the estrogen mestranol as Ovulen was approved in 1965 as Searle's second oral contraceptive, and combined with the estrogen ethinylestradiol
was approved in 1970 as Demulen
. Colton retired from Searle in 1986 as research adviser. In 1988 he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chemist who first synthesized norethynodrel
Norethynodrel
Norethynodrel was the progestin used in Enovid, the first oral contraceptive....
, the progestin
Progestin
A progestin is a synthetic progestogen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most common uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...
used in Enovid
Enovid
Enovid or Enavid was the first combined oral contraceptive pill . Developed by G. D. Searle & Company, it was first made available in the U.S. in 1957. Initially Enovid was marketed only for the treatment of menstrual disorders. On May 9, 1960 the U.S...
, the first oral contraceptive, at G. D. Searle & Company
G. D. Searle & Company
G.D. Searle & Company or just Searle was a company focusing on life sciences, specifically pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and animal health. It is now part of Pfizer.- History :...
in Skokie, Illinois
Skokie, Illinois
Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
in 1952.
Frank B. Colton was born in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and immigrated to the United States in 1934. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1945 and 1946 and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1950. He was a research fellow at the Mayo Foundation from 1949 to 1951 working with Nobel Laureate
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
Edward C. Kendall to develop an improved synthesis of cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
.
In 1951 he joined Searle as a senior research chemist. In 1952 Colton synthesized the progestin norethynodrel (an isomer
Isomer
In chemistry, isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. Isomers do not necessarily share similar properties, unless they also have the same functional groups. There are many different classes of isomers, like stereoisomers, enantiomers, geometrical...
of norethindrone), which combined with the estrogen
Estrogen
Estrogens , oestrogens , or œstrogens, are a group of compounds named for their importance in the estrous cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal...
mestranol
Mestranol
Mestranol is the 3-methyl ether of ethinylestradiol. It was the estrogen used in many of the first oral contraceptives.It is a biologically inactive prodrug of ethinylestradiol to which it is demethylated in the liver with a conversion efficiency of 70% ....
as Enovid was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1956 for menstrual disorders and in 1960 as the first oral contraceptive. In 1953 he synthesized norethandrolone
Norethandrolone
Norethandrolone is an anabolic steroid....
, which as Nilevar was approved in 1956 as the first oral anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
. In 1954 Colton and Paul D. Klimstra synthesized the progestin ethynodiol diacetate
Ethynodiol diacetate
Ethynodiol diacetate is a molecule used in hormonal contraceptives....
, which combined with the estrogen mestranol as Ovulen was approved in 1965 as Searle's second oral contraceptive, and combined with the estrogen ethinylestradiol
Ethinylestradiol
Ethynylestradiol , also ethynyl estradiol , is a derivative of estradiol. Ethynyl estradiol is an orally bio-active estrogen used in almost all modern formulations of combined oral contraceptive pills...
was approved in 1970 as Demulen
Oral contraceptive formulations
Oral contraceptives come in a variety of formulations. The main division is between combined oral contraceptive pills, containing both estrogen and synthetic progestogens , and progestogen only pills...
. Colton retired from Searle in 1986 as research adviser. In 1988 he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
.