On this day, the United States Post Office issued a commemorative stamp honoring Dr. Percy Lavon Julian (1899–1975), a pioneering African American chemist. In 1935, Dr. Julian successfully synthesized physostigmine, a compound used to treat glaucoma. He later led soybean research at the Glidden Company and went on to found Julian Laboratories, where he innovated in the large-scale production of sterols extracted from soybean oil. His work laid the foundation for affordable steroid-based drugs, including cortisone and birth control.
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