In search of biomarkers — the science of metabolomics in pharmacy
study of the of small molecule metabolites found in biological fluids
Even today, morphine remains a popular opioid analgesic for cancer-related pain
April 2013
Mirabegron: no more dry mouth with OAB tablets
April 2013
Gareth Malson reports on mirabegron, a new treatment for overactive bladder
The use of nanotechnology in disease diagnosis and molecular imaging
How ranibizumab became a major treatment for people with wet AMD
Microbiomics: its growing significance in the world of medicines testing
Gut bacteria are now known to do more than just digest food. Kalliopi Dodou and Paul Whiteley take a look at microbiomics in our latest new science series
Short acting and reversible effects made heparin a great anticoagulant
February 2013
Actinic keratosis: a new treatment that could result in better compliance
February 2013
Gareth Malson talks to a dermatologist about ingenol and looks at its place in therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy’s positive impact on smokers is more than puff
DNA not necessarily your destiny? The role of epigenetics in pharmacy
Rienso: another option for renal anaemia
Folic acid: from a rescue treatment for methotrexate patients to landmark drug
November 2012
Intrathecal route of drug delivery can save lives or improve quality of life
November 2012
Effective, easy to use and affordable — the discovery and use of phenobarbital
October 2012
Phenobarbital continues to be recommended as first-line treatment for adults and children with epilepsy in poor countries. Jenny Bryan looks at the story behind the drug
Perampanel: a weapon against epilepsy
October 2012
Gareth Malson and Lin-Nam Wang report on a new first in class antiepileptic
Research and development in novel injectable formulations and devices
Why you still need to know about micelles
September 2012
Chris Green and Fyaz Ismail remind readers of what micelles are, how they are used in drug delivery and how they might affect administration of medicines
From cancer to rheumatoid arthritis treatment: the story of methotrexate
September 2012
Exploring the unconventional routes — rectal and vaginal dosage formulations
September 2012
Although rectal and vaginal routes of drug delivery are not common, Kalliopi Dodou examines the design of new formulations that allow easier insertion and retention
Nasal flu vaccine increases acceptability
August 2012
A needle-free influenza vaccine is music to trypanophobes' ears, says Gareth Malson
Pseudoephedrine is a tough product to challenge as a nasal decongestant
July 2012
Although pseudoephedrine has had its fair share of negative publicity in recent years, Jenny Bryan looks at why it is still one of the best decongestants around
New drug delivery formulations via the lungs are worth holding your breath for
July 2012
In our latest article on pharmaceutics, Hamde Nazar takes a look at new developments on the horizon for drug delivery via the pulmonary route
A new antibiotic to tackle C difficile
July 2012
A look at fidaxomicin, a first-in-class macrocyclic antiobiotic
Azilsartan: the new sartan on the block
June 2012
Will a new sartan offer any benefits over the ones already in use?
Oral formulations adapted for the old and the young and to prevent misuse
June 2012
In the second of two articles, Kalliopi Dodou and Hamde Nazar examine some novel oral formulations for those with difficulty swallowing or which prevent misuse
A natural remedy, Chinese superdrug and antimalarial: the story of artemisinin
Research and development in oral controlled release drug formulations
The holy grail of diabetes treatment that saves lives: the story of insulin
Research and developments in buccal and sublingual drug delivery systems
April 2012
A drug that does exactly what it says on the tin — the story of allopurinol
March 2012
Alllopurinol is not exactly a “glamorous” drug but its discovery and use has changed the lives of patients who suffer from gout, an embarassing ailment. Jenny Bryan investigates
There is more to the technology behind ocular delivery than meets the eye
March 2012
There’s no doubt that goserelin helped advance prostate cancer treatment
February 2012
How spironolactone became the next best thing for severe heart failure
January 2012
Trajenta looks set to buck renal trend
January 2012
Gareth Malson looks at when linagliptin may be a preferred prescribing option for diabetes
The potential for delivery of drugs via the nasal route is not to be sniffed at
January 2012
Pharmaceutics and modes of drug delivery will be under the spotlight in our series on science for 2012. In the first article, Hamde Nazar takes a look at nasal administration
Even today, aspirin continues to fight for acceptance by the medical industry
November 2011
Boceprevir boosts hepatitis C treatment
November 2011
Gareth Malson finds out how a new medicine for genotype 1 hepatitis C is likely to be used
Current treatments and research in the management of acute migraine attacks
November 2011
John Sherwood and Tania Jones take a look at the current standard treatments for migraine attacks and see what is on the horizon for future developments
Despite its problems, terfenadine did set a new standard for hay fever treatment
October 2011
In this article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan takes a look at how terfenadine, although not in use today, paved the way for research into non-sedating antihistamines
Xifaxanta for traveller’s diarrhoea
Lucy Hedley looks at a new alternative to ciprofloxacin and azithromycin (unlicensed use) for treating traveller’s diarrhoea: rifaximin
Current research in and development of treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
In this month’s science article, Deanne Marshall and Tania Jones take a look at current pharmacological treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and potential new drugs
In this month’s article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan looks at the discovery of taxanes and how they revolutionised the treatment of breast cancer
Current research in and development of treatments for Parkinson’s disease
September 2011
Tania Jones and Richard Murray examine the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease, its current treatments and the latest research
Yellox: just another ocular NSAID?
July 2011
Gareth Malson looks at possible benefits of bromfenac eyedrops after cataract surgery
How minoxidil was transformed from an antihypertensive to hair-loss drug
July 2011In this month’s article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan takes a look at how a side effect of minoxidil changed it into a popular hair-restoring product in pharmacies today
Gilenya: an alternative to MS injections?
July 2011Gareth Malson shines a spotlight on fingolimod, a new treatment for multiple sclerosis
Current therapies for and research in the treatment of thromboembolism
July 2011In this science article, Judith Heed and Mark Ashton examine the molecular basis of thrombosis, and current treatments and research and development of the disease
Xiapex for Dupuytren’s contracture
July 2011Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum marketed as Xiapex (Pfizer) is the first licensed injectable treatment for adults with Dupuytren’s contracture with a palpable cord.
Still going strong at 30: co-amoxiclav
June 2011In an era when bacterial resistance represents one of the greatest challenges to global health, it seems remarkable that the 30-year old antibiotic co-amoxiclav can still cure thousands of chest infections each winter. Jenny Bryan reports
Current pharmacological treatments and research and development in HIV
June 2011Progress in the research of HIV treatments has seen the disease move from a fatal to a chronic condition. Mark Ashton and Manjul Medhi take a look at the current drugs available and research and development into new treatments
A flexible drug with a wide range of doses — why oxybutynin is so useful
May 2011In this month’s article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan looks at oxybutynin’s longevity in the world of overactive bladder treatments and why it is still one of the most highly used drugs in the UK
Halaven: a new breast cancer option
May 2011Eribulin, marketed as Halaven (Eisai), is licensed as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease has progressed despite them having received two previous chemotherapy options for advanced disease
Current therapies and research and development in the treatment of asthma
May 2011There are around 5.4 million people in the UK receiving treatment for asthma. In this science article, Mark Ashton and Kay Crockatt look at the pathophysiology of asthma, current drug treatments and research and development into new therapies
How synthetic surfactants allowed those with RDS to breathe more easily
April 2011In The Journal’s latest article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan looks at the role of synthetic surfactants in the competitive market for treatments of respiratory distress syndrome in premature babies
Current and future options for the management of heart failure
April 2011In this science article, John Sherwood, Mark Ashton, Claire Newton and Sumita Biles examine the pathophysiology of heart failure, current treatments available, and research and development into new treatments
“Kwik-Fiximab” — how a monoclonal antibody transformed care of Crohn’s
March 2011
In this article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan takes a look at how
monoclonal antibodies transformed the lives of millions of people with
autoimmune disorders
New drugs and developments in the research into diabetes treatment
March 2011In this science article, Mark Magas takes a look at current research and development in the treatment of diabetes, including ways of manufacturing and delivering insulin
How chlorpromazine improved the treatment of schizophrenic patients
February 2011In The Journal’s latest article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan takes a look at the discovery of chlorpromazine and how its use has revolutionised the care of patients with schizophrenia
Current research and development of new treatments for schizophrenia
February 2011In this science article, Mark Ashton and Adam Todd examine the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, current treatments on the market and research into new treatments
Benefits versus risks — the rise and fall of hormone replace therapy
January 2011In this article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan takes a look at hormone replacement therapy’s rapid rise in popularity in the 1990s and its subsequent decline in popularity after studies linking it to breast cancer were published
Current and future options for the management of hypertension
January 2011In this science article, John Sherwood, Mark Ashton and Hugh Ferriman take a look at current pharmacological treatments for hypertension and examine research and development into new treatments
Donepezil — a major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
December 2010The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor Donepezil had a major impact on the lives of patients with Alzheimer’s disease but right from the start there were budgetary concerns. In this month’s “Landmark drugs” article, Jenny Bryan looks at donepezil and the future of it and other AChE inhibitors
Research and developments of vaccines and drug treatments for influenza
December 2010Infections with influenza occur predominantly during a six-to-eight week period during winter. Keith Lumbard and Mark Ashton describe current treatments for influenza and look at research into new vaccines and drug treatments
How the discovery of Australia antigen led to the creation of hepatitis B vaccine
November 2010Although eradication of hepatitis B remains a distant goal, the development of the hepatitis B vaccine has, nonetheless, reduced infection rate and deaths. Jenny Bryan takes a look at the development of the vaccine in this month’s article on landmark drugs
Current research and developments in pharmacological treatments for obesity
November 2010An article from Helen Simpson and Mark Ashton that describes current drug treatments for obesity and highlights potential new developments
Clomifene’s role in fertility treatment has never been usurped by its rivals
October 2010In this article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan takes a look at how clomifene became one of the most successful fertility pills of all time
How erythropoietin transformed the lives of kidney disease patients
September 2010In this article in the landmark drugs series, Jenny Bryan takes a look at erythropoietin alfa, which allowed people with advanced kidney failure to look healthy, go to work and exercise again
The process of drug development from the laboratory bench to the market
September 2010In this science article, Timothy J. Snape and Alison M. Astles discuss the processes involved in drug discovery and the methods used in developing new drugs from the laboratory bench to the market place
The transformation of chemotherapy by the 5-HT3 antagonist ondansetron
August 2010An article on landmark drugs from Jenny Bryan looks at how ondansetron emerged from a research programme in the mid-1980s and was shown to be more effective than older antiemetics in controlling nausea and vomiting for patients undergoing chemotherapy
The rational redesign of penicillins to help combat penicillin resistance
August 2010August 2010's science article explores the link between chemical structures of penicillins and their clinical importance. Timothy J. Snape and Alison M. Astles re-emphasise the link between chemistry and pharmacy practice in order to shed some light on why there is a need for so many penicillin antibiotics
How alendronate became the most widely used bisphosphonate in the UK
July 2010Continuing with our monthly articles on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan takes a look at how alendronate was shown to reduce both vertebral and non-vertebral fractures, which gave it an advantage that etidronate and other early bisphosphonates were not able to match
Take a close look at citalopram and you can predict its contraindications
July 2010In this science article, Timothy J. Snape and Alison M. Astles go back to basics with some revision of fundamental chemistry principles and look at how they are directly applicable to current pharmacy practice, using citalopram as an example
Despite the dramas, “the pill” has no doubt been a remarkable drug
June 2010As the oral contraceptive pill approaches its 50th birthday, Jenny Bryan looks at how this landmark drug continues to be subject to intense scrutiny
Current and potential new therapies for the treatment of psoriasis
June 2010In our latest article on science, Adam Todd, Roz J. Anderson, Paul W. Groundwater and Suja Elizabeth George look at current treatments for psoriasis, discuss scopes for new therapies and look at some new agents in development
Nifedipine: from the treatment of angina to the treatment of hypertension
May 2010In The Journal’s latest article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan looks at how nifedipine’s indication and popularity expanded
May 2010Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating condition that causes enormous suffering. In this science article, Adam Todd, Adrian Moore, Mark Ashton and Son Van look at current research and development into new treatments for this disease
April 2010In this article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan looks at how the meningitis C vaccine has reduced the annual number of cases of this infection
April 2010In The Journal’s latest article on science, Wasim Baqir and Carmel Copeland look at some of the current treatments and upcoming novel treatments for managing osteoporosis and fracture risk
How sumatriptan transformed the lives of millions of migraine sufferers
March 2010In our latest article on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan looks at how the discovery of sumatriptan started a revolution in migraine treatment
Targeting the thioredoxin system in the treatment of certain cancers
March 2010In the fourth and final science article on cancer treatments, Adam Todd, Roz J. Anderson, Grace Pickles and Paul W. Groundwater look at the thioredoxin system and its association with cancer, and how it offers a new therapeutic target for anticancer drug design
Why warfarin was an important step forward in anticoagulation therapy
February 2010It has taken over half a century for landmark drug warfarin to face serious competition at the forefront of anticoagulation therapy and, even now, with a new generation of drugs snapping at its heels, rumours of its demise are, as Mark Twain would say, “an exaggeration”
Current advances and research in the treatment of pancreatic cancer
February 2010In the third of four science articles on cancer treatments, Steve Williamson, Adam Todd, Roz J. Anderson and Paul W. Groundwater discuss current and novel treatments for pancreatic cancer, including one which is derived from a flower
Phortress: the smart antitumour agent which induces its own metabolism
January 2010In the second of four articles on cancer treatments, Tracey Bradshaw introduces a new antitumour agent, Phortress, currently under clinical evaluation, which offers a novel mechanism of action, with a smart approach to selectivity
Botox: from specialist ophthalmology clinics to suburban Botox parties
December 2009The 20-year odyssey from orphan drug to billion dollar blockbuster has seen botulinum toxin travel from specialist ophthalmology clinic to suburban Botox party, and its clientele extend from grateful patients with previously untreatable muscle spasms to multi-millionaire X Factor judges in search of youthful skin
Isotretinoin: an enormous landmark in the treatment of severe acne
November 2009Like it or loathe it, the acne treatment isotretinoin has transformed the lives of thousands of teenagers since it was licensed in the UK in 1983. At a time when dermatologists resorted to leprosy drugs and systemic steroids to treat the most severe cases of acne, the arrival of isotretinoin was widely welcomed despite its teratogenic properties which were recognised from the start
An overview of cancer treatments
November 2009As part of our series of science articles, Roz J. Anderson, Paul W. Groundwater, Adam Todd and Adrian Moore present the first of four articles on cancer treatments. The first provides an overview of traditional anticancer therapies, their mechanisms of action and their limitations
How the rise of sildenafil transformed the management of erectile dysfunction
October 2009Sildenafil is “younger” than the drugs discussed to date in this series, but its major impact guarantees its place as a landmark drug. The drug transformed both the management of erectile dysfunction (ED) and the understanding of its cause
Current research and development into new antibacterial agents
October 2009Following on from their first article (PJ, 12 September 2009, p281), which discussed new techniques employed to detect pathogenic bacteria, Adam Todd, Alan J. Worsley, Roz J. Anderson and Paul W. Groundwater outline recent research in antibacterial chemotherapy
The discovery of benzodiazepines and the adverse publicity that followed
September 2009No other landmark drug has been associated with as much adverse publicity as Valium (diazepam) and the extended family of benzodiazepines which it spawned. Even nearly five decades after the first benzodiazepine was launched, and almost 30 years since the Department of Health warned against long-term use, an estimated 1.5 million people are addicted to benzodiazepines
The technology and techniques used in the detection of pathogenic bacteria
September 2009In our latest science article, Paul W. Groundwater, Adam Todd, Alan J. Worsley and Roz J. Anderson give an introduction to some of the methods used in bacterial detection and explain how these methods could impact on the future of antibiotic prescribing
Rational drug design — designing a molecule that binds to a target
August 2009In the second part of our science article on rational drug design, Adam Todd, Roz Anderson and Paul W. Groundwater describe how a molecule that binds to a target is designed, using angiotensin-converting enzyme as a worked example to illustrate the process
Superseding antifungal creams and pessaries — the story of fluconazole
July 2009When the antifungal agent fluconazole reached British pharmacies in 1990, there was a pressing need for effective treatment for oral candidiasis, which was afflicting a significant proportion of HIV or AIDS patients, whose prognosis had been newly improved with antiretroviral treatment
Rational drug design — identifying and characterising a target
July 2009Structure-based drug design is now a common method used by the pharmaceutical industry to identify a lead compound and take it forward for further development. Adam Todd, Roz Anderson and Paul W. Groundwater describe the methods used to identify and characterise a target for structured drug design and illustrate how pharmacists can play an important role in this process
How the prescribing of omeprazole took off — and never looked back
June 2009For a product that spent its early life with cancer scare stories hanging around its neck, the first proton pump inhibitor (PPI), omeprazole, has not done badly. Licensed for the treatment of duodenal ulcer and other acid-related disorders, omeprazole hovered at or near the top of the world’s best seller charts through much of the 1990s
The development of modern vaccines
June 2009Jim Brewer and Virgil Schijns describe how modern vaccination approaches have developed and how animals will continue to play a fundamental role in understanding the control of the immune response to vaccines and the development of novel vaccines
Current and future incretin-based therapies for the treatment of diabetes
May 2009Diabetes mellitus is becoming increasingly prevalent. In this article, Brian Furman discusses the development of therapies for type 2 diabetes based on the incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide
From snake venom to ACE inhibitor — the discovery and rise of captopril
April 2009In the early 1980s, hypertension conferences were routinely enlivened by the poisonous Brazilian viper, Bothrops jararaca. With its striking zig-zag markings and aggressively protruding tongue, images of the snake were a welcome break from graphs and tables in presentations about captopril — the first of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, whose effects on blood pressure mechanisms mimicked those of the snake’s venom
Current treatments and development of modern therapies for stroke
April 2009Stroke is the third most common cause of death and disability. Currently, there is an unmet need for better drug treatments for this complex disease. In this article, Felicity N. E. Gavins discusses current treatments and the potential for new drugs for stroke
How the discovery of ibuprofen helped pave the way for other NSAIDs
March 2009Looking at the rows of branded and generic packs that now sit prominently on the shelves of every pharmacy, it is hard to believe that some of the first rheumatologists who tested ibuprofen raised doubts about its future as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis
Development of treatments targeting the renin-angiotensin system
March 2009The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in regulating cardiovascular function and there has been major successes with drugs targeting it. Will Ford discusses the mechanisms underlying this system and the development of therapeutics that target it
From breast cancer treatment to prevention: the story of tamoxifen
February 2009When the anti-oestrogen tamoxifen (Nolvadex) was first tested in advanced breast cancer in the early 1970s, endocrine therapy was falling out of favour because powerful combinations of cytotoxic drugs were starting to yield better results
Development of disease-modifying treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
February 2009The treatment paradigm for rheumatic arthritis has now developed from one of controlling pain and inflammation to one of preventing joint destruction. Michael Seed discusses the development of novel drugs and the role of animal models in their development
Levodopa — still the gold standard after 40 years of successful treatment
January 2009Levodopa, still the gold standard treatment for Parkinson’s disease almost four decades after it was launched, has achieved a place in pharmaceutical history that few drugs will ever match. Yet, when it was introduced as Larodopa by Roche, only those who had witnessed Parkinson’s patients get out of their wheelchairs after levodopa treatment would have put money on such succes
Myths and facts about animals in biomedical research and development
January 2009In this first article in a new series on pharmaceutical sciences, Kathy Banner, an industrial pharmacologist at Novartis, and Brian Furman, University of Strathclyde, explore some of the myths surrounding the use of animals in biomedical research and drug developmen
How ciclosporin changed attitudes towards organ transplantation
November 2008When the antirejection drug, ciclosporin (Sandimmun, Neoral), was extracted from the fungus Tolypocladium inflatum in the Swiss laboratories of Sandoz (now part of Novartis) in 1971, organ transplantation was strictly for the mavericks. Sandoz were looking for antibiotics, not immuno-suppressants, for which there was practically no market
Simvastatin and the study that allayed fears of cancer, suicide and murder
September 2008 Nearly 20 years after its name first appeared on prescription pads, an estimated 2.5 million people in the UK are taking simvastatin to lower cholesterol. A further million or so take rival statins, and heart disease tsar Roger Boyle has predicted that the total could double when Government plans for wider heart disease checks are implementedInterferon: the drug that changed our understanding of multiple sclerosis
August 2008Revolutionising the way a disease is treated is the primary requirement for a landmark drug to be included in this series. But few of the drugs featured so far have made doctors ask fundamental questions about the pathophysiology of a disease in the way that interferon has. The drug has changed our understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Interferon: an important step forward in treating hepatitis C infection
June 2008When American liver disease specialist Jay Hoofnagle reported giving alpha interferon to 10 patients with hepatitis C in 1986, the virus that causes the disease had not even been identified, and the disease was still called “non-A, non-B hepatitis”. But there was no doubting the efficacy of the treatment. In eight of the 10 patients, liver enzyme levels fell rapidly and eventually reached normal or near normal levels
Prozac — is it worthy of the hype?
January 2008Prozac (fluoxetine) was a member of a new class of antidepressants, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs as they quickly became known. Its development came from a combination of serendipity and self-interest but for a long time its future was in doubt. Its discoverers, researchers working for Eli Lilly, were unconvinced that it would have any value as an antidepressant, and it languished for 16 years from its discovery in 1972 to its launch in 1988
Inderal — a forerunner of a radically new generation of products
November 2007When beta-blockers dropped off the first-line therapy list for hypertension in last year's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and British Hypertension Society (BHS) guideline update, it was the end of an era for a group of drugs that were a major advance for blood pressure treatment. Starting with Inderal (propranolol), they were also the first real fruit of the receptor research that shaped pharmaceutical investigation during the second half of the 20th century
Ventolin remains a breath of fresh air for asthma sufferers, after 40 years
October 2007When Allen & Hanburys launched the first selective Beta 2-receptor agonist, Ventolin (salbutamol), in 1968, the drug was an instant success. With asthma mortality peaking at over 2,000 deaths per year in the mid 1960s, an effective broncho-dilator that specifically targeted the Beta2-receptors of the lungs was immediately seen as an important advance
