Valium
Who
Leo Sternbach, a Polish-born Jewish chemist who fled Nazi persecution and worked at Hoffmann-La Roche.
When
1963
Where
Nutley, New Jersey, United States
Valium (diazepam) is a benzodiazepine that became one of the most widely prescribed medicines of the 20th century for anxiety and related conditions. It was synthesized by Leo Sternbach, who also discovered Librium. Sternbach was a Jewish chemist who left Europe to escape Nazi persecution and continued his research in the United States.
Sources
Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.