Drug Discovery: A Casebook and Analysis / Edition 1

by Robert A. Maxwell, Shohreh B. Eckhardt

Overview

This treatise had its origins in the authors' strong opinion that the discovery of new drugs, especially of innovative therapeutic agents, really does not happen as a spontaneous sequel to investiga­ tive research, no matter how penetrating such research may be. Rather, it seemed to us that the discovery of innovative therapeutic agents was a very active process, existing in and of itself, and demanding full attention-it was not simply a passive, dependent by-process of investigative research. And yet, many researchers­ some close confreres of the authors, others more distant-believed otherwise. We felt that their view reflected unrealistic thinking and that reality probably lay closer to what Beyer" maintained: We are taught to believe that if we can understand a disease it should be easy enough to figure out, say, the molecular configuration of a definitive receptor mechanism somewhere along the line and to design a specific drug . . . . And so we start out to understand the disease but never get around to doing much about therapy. The authors very soon realized that there was essentially no quantitive information available on just where and how innovative therapeutic agents were discovered. There were only anecdotal accounts, and these were able to be selected and presented in ways that could be used to defend any point of view.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780896031807
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	10/02/1990
Edition description:	1990
Pages:	438
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.04(d)

Table of Contents

Cardiovascular and Renal Group (Including Renal Transplantation).- Propranolol.- Captopril.- Calcium Antagonists: Verapamil, Nifedipine, Diltiazem.- Chlorothiazide.- Furosemide.- Azathioprine.- Cyclosporine.- Psychiatry Group.- Chlorpromazine.- Haloperidol.- Imipramine.- Iproniazid.- Lithium.- Chlordiazepoxide and Diazepam.- Neurology Group.- L-Dopa.- Carbamazepine.- Rheumatology Group.- Indomethacin.- D-Penicillamine.- Hydroxychloroquine.- Methotrexate.- Cyclophosphamide.- Anesthesiology Group Succinylcholine.- Halothane.- Fentanyl.- Naloxone.- Pulmonary Group.- Albuterol.- Beclomethasone Dipropionate.- Gastrointestinal Group.- Cimetidine.- Chenodeoxycholic Acid and Ursodeoxycholic Acid.- Analysis and Interpretation.- Summaries of the Analyses of Table 1.- Interpretation.- Appendix: Analyses of Tables.- I. Analysis of 30 Lines of Research.- II. Analysis of 32 Inovative Drugs.- III. Analysis of the Inovative Drugs Taken as a Groups.

Editorial Reviews

An analytical survey of research since WWII that led to innovative therapeutic agents. For each of 32 drugs a review of the original scientific contributions associated with its discovery is presented. These chapters are followed by a computer analysis of important variables and finally by an interpretation and discussion of implications. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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