drug development

• Ignaz semmelweiss


  • discovered hand washing
  • pregnant mothers were more likely to die if the doctor had previously been dissecting corpses rather than if the baby was delivered by a midwife
  • deaths were reduced when students washed their hands
• how to prevent disease?

  • hygiene
  • destroying vectors to prevent spreading of disease
  • isolating infected individuals
  • vaccination
• how does skin work?

  • acts as a barrier to prevent pathogens from reaching tissues beneath
  • produces antimicrobial secretions
• the heart drug digitalis originates from foxgloves
• the painkiller aspirin originates from willow
• penicillin was found by Alexander Fleming from the penicillium mould
• most new drugs are synthesised by chemists, but the starting point may still be extracted from a plant
• what are preclinical trials?

  • drugs are tested in the lab on human cells and tissues
  • the drug is tested on live animals to find efficacy, toxicity and dosage
• what are clinical trials?

  • drug is tested on healthy volunteers to test side affects and dosage
  • if results are good, drug is tested on people suffering from illness to find the optimum dosage
• what are double blind trials?

  • patients with a target disease take part in the trial
  • some are given a placebo that doesn't contain the drug
  • neither patient nor the doctor know who has received the real drug
  • trials are not published until they are peer reviewed to prevent false claims