It was isolated from Streptomyces noursei in 1950 by Elizabeth Lee Hazen and Rachel Fuller Brown, who were doing research for the Division of Laboratories and Research of the New York State Department of Health.
A Streptomyces noursei ből izolálta 1950-ben Elizabeth Lee Haxen és Rachel Fuller Brown akik a New York State Department of Health kutató laboratóriumában dolgoztak.