[Paul Ehrlich and commercial serum production: on the control of diphtheria antitoxin in the laboratory and in industry]

Abstract

The state control of the anti-diphtheria serum is a prime example for the efficient cooperation between state authorities, industrials and scientists. The article describes firstly the dynamics of this development and places it in the context of already existing approaches to drugs control. Of special interest are the motives which led the different actors to support the state control of sera. Secondly the reciprocal influences between Ehrlich and the serum producers are analyzed. It is shown that practical problems inspired Ehrlich's theoretical work, which in return led to an improvement of measurement techniques.