Review
"This is a book that belongs in the personal library of every medicinal chemist, pharmacist, and all others interested in drug discovery and the historical basis of medicinal chemistry." (
Journal of Medicinial Chemistry, August 10, 2006)
"…an entertaining as well educationally enlightening read." (Bulletin of the History of Chemistry, Volume 31, Number 2, 2006)
"The scientist or lay person wanting a general background on the history of discovery, as well as glimpse of what is in store for the future, will find this book useful." (Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, No. 2, 2006)
" … an excellent bibliographic resource for those interested in the background papers that serve as the foundation for discovery of specific drug entities." (Journal of Medical Chemistry, June 2006)
"…a valuable source of information and an enjoyable review of the age of synthetic chemistry with its great therapeutic success." (American Journal of Therapeutics, March/April 2006)
"…a very comprehensive overview of drug development. It should be on the shelf on any aspiring pharmacist, medicinal chemist, or person interested in the history of therapeutic agents." (Journal of Chemical Education, February 2006)
"…a thoroughly enjoyable book to read, to use as reference, or to jump into at any point. It is a must addition for the libraries of…anyone who wishes to know more about the drug discovery process and how it has evolved over time." (The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, December 2005)
"...an important contribution to the literature on the history of drugs...a valuable resource for those working in the history of pharmacy, medicine, and science." (Pharmacy in History, Vol. 47 (2005) No. 2)
"...crammed with interesting facts and anecdotes." (The Lancet, 2nd July 2005)
"...a very readable and closely researched book..." (Chemistry & Industry, Issue 9, 3rd October 2005)
"...a book of great merit and considerable scholarship..."(Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Vol 98, November 2005)
"...comprehensive..." (Accident & Emergency Nursing, Vol 13, 2005)
"...the book is great value for everybody..." (Pharmazie, Vol 60, December 2005)
From the Back Cover
The process of discovery of medicinal compounds has evolved over millennia, from Neanderthal man’s use of medicinal herbs to the highly-evolved techniques of biotechnology and high-throughput screening used by today’s medicinal chemists.
Drug Discovery – A History reviews the full panoply of discovery of therapeutic compounds in use today.
The book is divided into three parts. The first, the Legacy of the Past, gives an overview of medicinal compounds in society, ranging from the earliest use of medicinal herbs through the ancient civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, concluding with an overview of development of life-saving organic compounds in the 20th century. The second part examines the commonest source of the drug – the natural world. Prototypes from vegetable, animal, and microbial sources are described in separate chapters, as are the medicinal compounds prepared from them. The problem of relying on nature as a source of drug prototypes is confronted. Part Three considers synthetic compounds that have served as drug prototypes, the role of serendipity in providing these synthetic prototypes, and a review of compounds derived from them.
Drug Discovery – A History is essential reading for medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, organic chemists, physicians, researchers and anyone with an interest in the development of therapeutic drugs.
