[Wide-O]

I just saw this via Ben Goldacre: apparently researchers have found a natural analgesic with a molecule that is identical to Tramadol: http://presse-inserm.fr/en/an-analge...n-africa/9600/

Thanks to this work, the researchers were able to isolate and determine the properties of the component in the plant that was responsible for the presumed analgesic effects, by analysing part of the root bark. And to everyone’s surprise, they found that this component was already commercially available under the name: Tramadol.

Goldacre wondered what this would mean for the patent...