wonder drug

American  

noun

1. a drug, usually recently discovered or developed, noted for its startling curative effect, as an antibiotic or sulfa drug.

---

Etymology

Origin of wonder drug

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

While Dr Chung sees no harm in healthy adults "trying it out", he also says results tend to be "minimal gains", adding that "it is not, by any means, a wonder drug".

From BBC

Official papers unearthed by the National Archives reveal the prime minister's frustration and concern over slow progress securing supplies of what was then seen to be a brand new "wonder drug".

From BBC

“Tamiflu works for bird flu. It’s not a super powerful drug for regular flu, so it’s probably not going to be a wonder drug for the bird flu,” said Dr. Melanie Ott, a virologist at UC San Francisco.

From Salon

Indeed, it's often described as a "wonder drug."

From Salon

The medicine kept her happy and well with few side effects, and she described it as a wonder drug.

From Salon