Where does this come from??

Alright, I was watching a TV show last night and they were showing how pills are made. My question is, where do the chemicals that make the drug come from? Street drugs are easy. Cocaine comes from the coca plant, heroin from the opium poppy. Some prescriptions are easy also. Penicillian comes from mold. But, where do these new drugs come from? Like the cancer drugs or AIDS drugs or any of the blood pressure or cholesterol drugs? Are there just millions of chemicals out there and if you mix different combos they do different stuff? Or do most come from plants? If anybody has any links or any insight, please share. And please, no stupid answers.

Diane, I know that, but where do the original chemicals come from. Say I have drug A. It's ingredients are chemical B, C and D. What i want to know is, where do B,C and D come from.

drugs can come from man made materials or can come from plants. Most successful drugs are derived from plants. It is a huge trial and error process.

There are lots of different chemical compounds that are combined in laboratories to make drugs. You can see what's included if you go to drug company websites for specific drugs. These compounds also have a binding agent so that they can be put in pill form.

This is why endangered plants and animals must be saved. It is also why certain areas on this planet need preservation. The remedies for all of man kinds afflictions are already here on earth waiting to be discovered. Who knows what plant or animal secretion or gland could provide a cure for the major diseases world wide! These chemicals can be derived from plants. animals. minerals, and othe elements found on earth!