title: [A tribute to Carl Djerassi].
abstract: On January 15, 2015, Carl Djerassi, an extraordinary personality, died at the age of 91 years. He was born in Vienna, Austria, on October 29, 1923. His parents were physicians and probably he wanted to be also a physician, but sooner than later he chose to be a chemist. In 1939 he arrived to live to New York with his mother. In 1945 he became American citizen. Part of his work is the first commercial antihistamine, pyribenzamine, and the first successful combined oral contraceptive pill. With this editorial we make a tribute to this steroid pioneer.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Endocrinología, Diabetes y Metabolismo del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Centro Médico Nacional, Distrito Federal, México. zaratre@att.net.mx.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zárate
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saucedo
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000266:history; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000266:history*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D014309:Tripelennamine / Q000266:history; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D014309:Tripelennamine
keywords: Biography; Contraceptive agents