At the time, it was thought that the pill must not be fast-acting, because in doses as high as 1200 milligrams, it appeared to be non-sedating, Keim remembers.
VelaPharm Chief Executive Kevin L. Keim remembers seeing the tofisapam molecule, which was approved as a niche anxiety drug in 15 countries but never became a big seller, when he worked at Roche, alongside Valium inventor Leo Sternbach.