5 Most Important Medical Discoveries in History

In this article, we take a look at the 5 most important medical discoveries in history. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the medicine industry, go directly to the 15 Most Important Medical Discoveries in History.

5. Development of a Technique for Producing Monoclonal Antibodies

Year of Medical Discovery: 1984

Nobel Prize Winner: Niels Jerne, Georges Köhler, and César Milstein

Niels Jerne, Georges Köhler, and César Milstein’s work on monoclonal antibodies have created treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and some forms of cancer and viral infections. In 1984, Jerne, Köhler, and Milstein were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for the development of a technique for producing monoclonal antibodies. The discovery of monoclonal antibodies is ranked fifth on our list of the most important medical discoveries in history.