In Quest of Tomorrow's Medicines [Hardcover]

Jürgen Drews (Author), D. Kramer (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387985476 | ISBN-13: 978-0387985473 | Publication Date: January 15, 1999 | Edition: 1

An eminent scientist talks about the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology and the future of drug research. In the course of our busy, technologically-driven lives, it is taken for granted that we respond to minor fluctuations in our health by taking pills -- pills for headache and for toothache; sleeping pills and tranquilizers; pills to lower fever, quiet coughs, and clear the sinuses; medicines to reduce appetite; preparations to relieve heartburn; and many more. In the war against serious disease, medicines are an indispensable weapon in the physician's arsenal: they save lives, or at least prolong them and make them more bearable. Despite the important role that pharmaceuticals play in our lives, few of us know where medicines come from or how the pharmaceutical industry discovers and develops new drugs. Jurgen Drews, an acclaimed leader in the pharmaceutical industry, tells the fascinating story of drug discovery and development from his years of successfully leading internatnional research teams at Hoffman-LaRoche. Drews traces the history of modern drug development from pharmacies, chemical companies, and individual entrepeneurs in Switzerland, Germany and the U.S. to the mega-corporations that dot the landscape of Europe, Japan and America. He describes the process by which new drugs are tested and brought to market, including a provacative look at how AIDS activism stimulated the approval process in the US. Drews' commentary on the role of clinical trials -- the time involved and their cost -- is sobering testimony to the complexity of bringing innovation to the marketplace. In the final two chapters of "In Quest of Tomorrow's Medicines", Drews offers an important and critical analysis of research in the the pharmaceutical industry, pointing to strategies that work and management practices that impede progress. Drews' comments on the impact that the growing relationship between the biotechnology industry and university-sponsored research will have ont he pharmaceutical industry makes provocative reading for pharmaceutical researchers, managers and investors. "In Quest of Tomorrow's Medicines" in written in clear, thoughtful language for people in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, as well as policy makers, industry analysts and observers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A comprehensive story of drug research with all its glorious successes, its paradigm shifts, its new strategies, and its crisis at the brink of the 21st century, where new players have already moved into areas, which for a long time appeared to be reserved for the pharmaceutical industry. Told as a thrilling story." (Martin Hicklin, Basler Zeitung, Switzerland)

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (January 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387985476
• ISBN-13: 978-0387985473
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,584,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An superbly well-documented Story on Modern Medicines, June 23, 2000

By 

Roger A. Brooks - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Quest of Tomorrow's Medicines (Hardcover)

This is one of the very best books written to-date of the challenging world of modern medicines and their development. The book also addresses the new challenges that researchers face in the world of biotechnology and genomics research. A Must Read for professionals in the medical fields, as well as just those who are interested in the story of Modern Medicines!