15 Drugs and the Real World of Medical Practice G E O R G E E . B U R K E T , JR., M . D .
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M e d i c a l Arts Center, 349 North M a i n St., K i n g m a n , K a n . 67069
Two worlds
revolve
in the field of medicine—the
drugs and the world of medical the same direction munication physician search,
and with amazing
between
and although
practice.
synchronization.
them takes many paths to many
it is quite complex,
is indebted in public
world
it is improving
to the drug industry
and private
institutions,
drugs. pects disease
For the future more and
pharmaceutical
miracle cancer
and timesaving the clinical drugs.
daily.
the
The
for providing
so offer
way to prescribe
physician
Arteriosclerotic
represent
Com areas,
as well as to re
many new drugs for so many valid uses. Tradenames an easy, convenient,
of
They both move in
foremost
confidently
new ex
cardiovascular challenges
to
researchers.
Τ η discussing d r u g s a n d t h e r e a l w o r l d of m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e , w e must first c o n t e m p l a t e the significance of the title. T h e p r a c t i c e of m e d i c i n e has a l w a y s b e e n associated w i t h the use of drugs w h e t h e r t h e y b e t e r m e d drugs, concoctions, or potions. H i s t o r y records p h y s i c i a n s ' c o m p o u n d i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n s i n a n E g y p t i a n society 15 centuries b e f o r e C h r i s t , a n d t h e annals of m e d i c i n e t h r o u g h m o r e t h a n 2000 years are filled w i t h n e w remedies f o r o l d a n d n e w diseases a n d ailments.
W h y , t h e n , does t h e
title of this p a p e r suggest a d i s t i n c t separation b e t w e e n d r u g s a n d m e d i c a l practice?
O n e m u s t trace the p a t h w a y of t i m e f o r the answer.
Through
the ages drugs h a v e not b e e n the exclusive p r o p e r t y of p h y s i c i a n s .
His
tory records the use of drugs i n religious ceremonies, a n d c h e m i c a l w a r fare c a n b e t r a c e d to t h e fifth c e n t u r y B . C . " T r u t h s e r u m s " h a v e b e e n a d v o c a t e d i n s o l v i n g crimes, a n d thousands of p r o p r i e t a r y d r u g s are u s e d w i t h o u t the a d v i c e of a p h y s i c i a n . L o o k i n g elsewhere, one also finds that p h y s i c i a n s h a v e n o exclusive c l a i m to the d e v e l o p m e n t of d r u g s or to the c o m p o u n d i n g of m e d i c a t i o n . 267
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
268
DRUG
DISCOVERY
A s f a r b a c k as H i p p o c r a t e s , 2500 years ago, apothecaries p r e p a r e d p r e s c r i b e d concoctions.
U n t i l the d a w n of o u r present scientific era, i t w a s
c o m m o n p l a c e f o r f r i e n d s or relatives to p r e p a r e " a p p r o p r i a t e m e d i c a t i o n " ( u s u a l l y b a s e d o n f o l k l o r e ) . T h o s e i n f a m i l y m e d i c i n e are a w a r e that a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of f o l k l o r e m e d i c i n e still remains—e.g., h o n e y a n d v i n e g a r f o r arthritis, potato p o u l t i c e s for c e l l u l i t i s , a n d s p i d e r w e b s to stop b l e e d i n g i n a l a c e r a t i o n . W e n o w k n o w that m a n y of the c r u d e d r u g s w h i c h w e r e f o u n d e m p i r i c a l l y to be effective l o n g before the m o d e r n scientific era a c t u a l l y c o n t a i n e d d r u g s w h i c h h a v e b e e n i d e n t i f i e d a n d are u s e d
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today—e.g., q u i n i n e f r o m c i n c h o n a b a r k , d i g i t a l i s f r o m f o x g l o v e , a n d o p i u m f r o m the p o p p y . I n fact, p h a r m a c e u t i c a l c o m p a n i e s are e x p l o r i n g b o t a n i c a l species a r o u n d the w o r l d i n search of basic n e w d r u g s w h i c h c a n b e s y n t h e s i z e d or a l t e r e d f o r m e d i c i n a l purposes ( 1 ). Since the c i v i l i z a t i o n s b e f o r e C h r i s t there has b e e n a d i v i s i o n bet w e e n the p h y s i c i a n s w h o d i a g n o s e d a n d p r e s c r i b e d d r u g s a n d those w h o d i s c o v e r e d a n d c o m p o u n d e d t h e m , w i t h the grey area i n b e t w e e e n i n w h i c h certain physicians performed equally w e l l . W e have then what c o u l d be t e r m e d t w o w o r l d s of m e d i c i n e , w o r l d s w h i c h f o r t u n a t e l y r e v o l v e i n the same d i r e c t i o n a n d w i t h a m a z i n g s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n . S i n c e the b e g i n n i n g of scientific m e d i c i n e , d a t i n g f r o m a n i n d e f i n i t e p o i n t i n the 18th century, these t w o areas have b e c o m e
increasingly
d i s t i n c t , a n d w i t h the scientific e x p l o s i o n of the past 30 years, i d e n t i f i c a t i o n seems c o m p l e t e .
M e d i c a l p r a c t i c e is n o w i n v o l v e d w i t h n e w m e t h -
ods of diagnosis, t h e r a p e u t i c techniques, a n d h e a l t h care d e l i v e r y w h i l e the d r u g i n d u s t r y is i n v o l v e d i n the d e v e l o p m e n t of n e w c h e m i c a l s a n d b i o l o g i c a l s a n d t h e i r m a n u f a c t u r e — e a c h w o r l d s t i m u l a t i n g the other a n d w o r k i n g r e m a r k a b l y w e l l together.
O u r subject t h e n deals w i t h h o w some
of the p r o d u c t s of one w o r l d are u t i l i z e d w i t h i n the o t h e r — t h e r e a l w o r l d of m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e . I n m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e the use of drugs a n d their f u n c t i o n h a v e a sign i f i c a n c e v e r y different f r o m that i n the w o r l d of strict scientific research and manufacturing.
T h e c l i n i c a l p h y s i c i a n m u s t consider not o n l y the
p h y s i o l o g i c aspects of t h e r a p y b u t the p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n d s o c i a l aspects as w e l l ( 1 ). T h e p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y seems to b e a w a r e of this fact as e v i d e n c e d b y a d v e r t i s i n g i n m e d i c a l journals.
F o r e x a m p l e one i l l u s -
t r a t i o n depicts a m i d d l e a g e d m a n w h o was able to r e s u m e
marital
relations after t a k i n g a c o r o n a r y d i l a t o r . A n o t h e r a d d e p i c t e d the c u r v a ceous d o l l w h o w a s able to w e a r her b i k i n i after h e r e c z e m a w a s c l e a r e d b y a c e r t a i n u n g u e n t u m . S t i l l another asked, " H o w l o n g c a n she w a i t ? " w h e n r e f e r r i n g to a p r e p a r a t i o n for c u r i n g m o n i l i a l v a g i n i t i s . O t h e r i l l u s trations m i g h t i n c l u d e , "If h e kisses y o u once, w i l l he kiss y o u a g a i n , " a n d , " E v e n y o u r best f r i e n d w o n ' t t e l l y o u . "
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
15.
BURKET, JR.
Drugs and
Medical
269
Practice
T h e c l i n i c a l p h y s i c i a n m u s t relate to situations l i k e this e v e r y d a y . S u c h situations m a y seem i d i o t i c to the science w r i t e r or to those w h o seek a n y reason to c r i t i c i z e the p h a r m a c e u t i c a l a n d m e d i c a l professions, b u t t h e y are v e r y r e a l concerns to the p h y s i c i a n a n d his patients. If critics or skeptics t h i n k that the illustrations i n a n y w a y affect the j u d g m e n t of the c l i n i c i a n s , regardless of the p h y s i o l o g y i n v o l v e d , the t h e r a p e u t i c re sults, or possible adverse effects, they are s a d l y m i s t a k e n .
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Development and Use of Drugs T h e i m p o r t a n c e i n m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e of f u n c t i o n r e l a t i n g to drugs is best o u t l i n e d b y B a r b e r ( 1 ) i n " D r u g s a n d S o c i e t y . " " Ά d r u g , ' say G o o d m a n and G i l m a n (2)
i n their s t a n d a r d textbook o n t h e r a p e u t i c p h a r m a
c o l o g y , m a y b e b r o a d l y d e f i n e d as a n y c h e m i c a l agent w h i c h affects l i v i n g p r o t o p l a s m , a n d f e w substances w o u l d escape i n c l u s i o n b y this d e f i n i t i o n / So b r o a d a d e f i n i t i o n indicates that the p r o b l e m of d e f i n i t i o n is s t i l l w i t h us. I n d e e d it is, a n d a l l the m o r e so since a n y t h i n g c o n s i d e r e d to b e a d r u g takes o n a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t of its significance f r o m s o c i a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l meanings a t t a c h e d to it b y i n d i v i d u a l s a n d b y s o c i a l systems," B a r b e r illustrates w i t h a f e w examples. the
Food and D r u g
" A recent d i s p u t e b e t w e e n
Administration and a pharmaceutical
manufac
turer o r i g i n a t e d i n the assertion b y the F D A that the p r o d u c t Q u e l l w h i c h was b e i n g s o l d as a d i e t a r y f o o d w a s i n fact a m i s b r a n d e d d r u g . ' " A g a i n , the F D A has h e l d that the i n k stain used for diagnosis i n f u n g a l i n f e c t i o n is a d r u g .
T h i s stain, m a n u f a c t u r e d b y a c o m p a n y p r o d u c i n g i n k for
f o u n t a i n pens, is essentially no different f r o m the f o u n t a i n p e n i n k .
Dial
soap, because of its a n t i b a c t e r i a l claims is also classified as a d r u g . d e e d , a n y i t e m l i s t e d i n the U n i t e d States P h a r m a c o p o e i a
In
(U.S.P.)
is
l e g a l l y d e f i n e d b y the F o o d , D r u g , a n d C o s m e t i c A c t as a d r u g . I n c l u d e d , therefore, as drugs are c e r t a i n g a u z e bandages l i s t e d i n the U . S. P .
The
social a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l definitions of materials of a l l k i n d s are h i g h l y relevant to their b e i n g n a m e d " d r u g s . " W e m i g h t even say that n o t h i n g is a d r u g , b u t n a m i n g makes it so. D r . B a r b e r c o n c l u d e s , " A n adequate d e f i n i t i o n of a d r u g w i l l start w i t h the a s s u m p t i o n that a n y t h i n g i n v o l v e d i n h u m a n b e h a v i o r needs to b e c o n s i d e r e d at the p h y s i o l o g i c a l l e v e l , the p s y c h o l o g i c a l l e v e l , a n d the s o c i a l l e v e l , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y needs to consider these three levels i n i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h one another . . ." T h e s e statements illustrate the considerations the p h y s i c i a n m u s t give to drugs i n m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e .
T h e y also i n d i c a t e h o w l e n g t h y this p a p e r
m i g h t be i f this subject w e r e discussed t h o r o u g h l y a n d i n d e t a i l .
Instead,
let us d w e l l m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y o n the c l i n i c a l p h y s i c i a n ' s attitudes c e r n i n g subjects of m o r e i m m e d i a t e a n d m u t u a l interest.
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
con
270 The
DRUG DISCOVERY
Pharmaceutical
Industry
T h e p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y h o l d s the highest p o s i t i o n of a d m i r a t i o n a n d respect i n the o p i n i o n of most p h y s i c i a n s . T h e p h y s i c i a n v i e w s its a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s i n the past 30 years as s o m e t h i n g a k i n to m i r a c u l o u s . T h o s e w h o have b e e n i n c l i n i c a l m e d i c i n e for over 30 years
remember
too w e l l the d e p r e s s i n g deaths f r o m p n e u m o n i a , p u e r p e r a l s e p t i c e m i a , m e n i n g i t i s , i n f l u e n z a , t y p h o i d fever, b a c t e r i a l e n d o c a r d i t i s , tuberculosis, tetanus, a n d c o m p l i c a t i o n s of s y p h i l i s , a n d w e easily recollect the c r i p -
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p l i n g of p o l i o m y e l i t i s , osteomyelitis, a n d r h e u m a t i c fever. T o d a y a l l of these a n d h u n d r e d s of other diseases a n d ailments are c o n t r o l l e d or c u r e d b y m o d e r n d r u g s . I n 1910 q u i n i n e , ether, m o r p h i n e , alcohol, mercury, iodine, digitalis, diphtheria antitoxin, and arsphenamine w e r e a v a i l a b l e . T o d a y w e h a v e antiinfectious agents, t r a n q u i l i z i n g agents, c a r d i o v a s c u l a r a n d d i u r e t i c agents, steroids, a n t i d i a b e t i c agents, analgesics a n d anesthetics,
antihistamines, antianemics,
biological products
hormones, v i t a m i n s , a n d
(3).
W h i l e w e m a y be c r i t i c a l at times of the s e e m i n g l y h i g h cost of drugs to o u r patients, w e are q u i c k to r e c a l l that the cost of m e d i c i n e consists of o n l y 2 0 % of the total cost of h e a l t h care i n the U n i t e d States a n d has risen little, c o m p a r a t i v e l y s p e a k i n g , i n the past 10 years. W e also r e c o g n i z e that the d r u g i n d u s t r y invests a p p r o x i m a t e l y one m i l l i o n d o l l a r s a d a y i n the search for n e w a n d better drugs ( 7 ) . H o w the p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y operates i n the eyes of the c l i n i c a l p h y s i c i a n is best d e s c r i b e d b y C h e s t e r K e e f e r ( 3 )
in "The Medicated
Society." They work in chemistry—on physical, organic a n d medicinal chemistry, a n d t o d a y p u r s u e the m i c r o m o l e c u l a r fields of D N A - R N A , p o l y p e p t i d e s a n d enzymes. T h e y seek to relate the changes i n the c o n f i g u r a t i o n of a c h e m i c a l c o m p o u n d w i t h its i m p a c t o n the h u m a n o r g a n i s m , i n the t r a d i t i o n o f — b u t f o r t u n a t e l y m u c h m o r e k n o w l e d g e t h a n — E r l i c h seventy years ago as he sought the " m a g i c b u l l e t " f o r target sites or target diseases. T h e y w o r k w i t h m i c r o o r g a n i s m s — b a c t e r i a , viruses, f u n g i , a n d the c y c l i c existence of parasites; a n d t h e y seek vaccines, as f o r p o l i o , i n f l u e n z a , measles, m u m p s , a n d r u b e l l a . T h e y w o r k w i t h a n i m a l s — m i c e , rats, m o n k e y s , dogs, cats, p i g s , c h i c k ens, h o r s e s — a n estimated n i n e m i l l i o n of t h e m a year. E a c h p l a y s a role i n finding out first w h e t h e r the d r u g does a n y t h i n g to the l i v i n g o r g a n i s m a n d s e c o n d l y w h e t h e r it has toxic effects i n the r a n g e of a m o u n t s necessary to a c h i e v e u s e f u l effects. T h e y w o r k w i t h tissues—the sections of organs a n d samples of b l o o d that, w h e n e x a m i n e d , s h o w m i c r o s c o p i c a l l y w h e t h e r d a m a g e has b e e n d o n e a n d h o w m u c h of the d r u g m a y be h a r m f u l , a n d w h a t to l o o k for if h u m a n s take too m u c h .
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
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15.
BURKET, JR.
Drugs and
Medical
271
Practice
T h e y w o r k i n the skills of the a p o t h e c a r y , c a r r i e d i n t o t h e m o d e r n science of p h a r m a c y , to p r e p a r e the c h e m i c a l i n a f o r m the b o d y c a n a n d w i l l take, absorb, m e t a b o l i z e , a n d excrete—the capsule, the tablet, the s o l u t i o n or suspension or ointment. T h e i r l a b o r a t o r y w o r k d o n e , they t u r n to the c l i n i c s , m e d i c a l centers, a n d p h y s i c i a n ' s offices f o r the s t u d y of drugs i n h u m a n s . A n d w h e n a l l the studies h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e d , t h e y w i l l ask a p p r o v a l of the F e d e r a l F o o d a n d D r u g A d m i n i s t r a t i o n to m a r k e t the p r o d u c t f o r the uses that h a v e b e e n p r o v e d out b y research. F r o m the basic c h e m i c a l i n d u s t r y c o m e r a w materials to use i n largescale f o r m u l a t i o n of the n e w p r o d u c t . F r o m the vast f e r m e n t a t i o n vats c o m e a n t i b i o t i c s . I n l a b o r a t o r y - l i k e f o r m u l a t i o n facilities, the m i x i n g , b a k i n g , c o m p r e s s i n g , c o a t i n g , a n d other p h a r m a c e u t i c a l processes take p l a c e , u n d e r the w a t c h f u l eye of q u a l i t y c o n t r o l inspectors. I n the spaceage-clean rooms of b i o l o g i c a l p r o d u c t i o n , v i r u s vaccines are g r o w n , harvested, p u r i f i e d , a n d endlessly tested. F r o m start to finish, statistical, n u m e r i c a l , p r o c e d u r a l , p h y s i c a l , c h e m i c a l , a n d a n a l y t i c a l c o n t r o l systems a t t e m p t to r e d u c e to near-zero the p o t e n t i a l error, m i x u p , d i s t o r t i o n , or hazard. C o n c u r r e n t l y , a large g r o u p of w e l l - i n f o r m e d m e n p r o m o t e u s e f u l k n o w l e d g e a b o u t the n e w l y d i s c o v e r e d d r u g s a n d p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n to doctors, p h a r m a c i s t s , a n d hospitals. Communication W h a t a s u p e r b job D r . K e e f e r has d o n e i n d e s c r i b i n g the p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y as the p h y s i c i a n k n o w s it t o d a y .
H o w e v e r , the story
w o u l d not be c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t d i s c u s s i n g the methods of c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the i n d u s t r y a n d the p h y s i c i a n for here is the m e c h a n i s m w h i c h benefits of the d e s c r i b e d system r e a c h the p a t i e n t — t h e
by
i l l and
the d i s a b l e d . T h i s e d u c a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n m e c h a n i s m is c o m p l e x a n d ext r e m e l y i n v o l v e d . It takes m a n y paths i n a n attempt to r e a c h a l l areas w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e d u p l i c a t i o n a n d o v e r l a p p i n g . I n c l u d e d are the d e t a i l m e n , advertisements i n m e d i c a l journals, d i r e c t m a i l a d v e r t i s i n g , exhibits at m e d i c a l meetings, scientific articles i n m e d i c a l journals, scientific p r o grams at m e d i c a l meetings, t h e r a p e u t i c h a n d b o o k s , U . S. P h a r m a c o p e i a , the P . D . R . , p u b l i c a t i o n s s u c h as the Medical
Letter,
and an obvious
source, the m e d i c a l s c h o o l w i t h its u n d e r g r a d u a t e i n s t r u c t i o n a n d increasi n g l y active postgraduate schools for p r a c t i c i n g p h y s i c i a n s .
T h e degree
of i n v o l v e m e n t of the p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y i n these e d u c a t i o n a l a n d communication mechanisms
varies c o n s i d e r a b l y i n different areas, b u t
c e r t a i n l y its c o n t r i b u t i o n is a major factor. I n a l l of these endeavors perhaps the best representatives the i n d u s try has are the d e t a i l m e n , most of w h o m the p r a c t i c i n g p h y s i c i a n has come to respect a n d enjoy. T h e y b r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g n e w drugs
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
272
DRUG DISCOVERY
d i r e c t l y to the p h y s i c i a n i n his office, c l i n i c , a n d h o s p i t a l . T h e s e m e n are t r u l y the p u b l i c relations p e o p l e f o r p h a r m a c e u t i c a l c o m p a n i e s . T h e w i s e d e t a i l m a n regards the p h y s i c i a n as the i n t e l l i g e n t a n d e d u c a t e d i n d i v i d u a l that he is a n d discusses o n l y one or t w o d r u g s at e a c h visit.
He
c a r e f u l l y relates adverse or side effects of the d r u g as w e l l as its therap e u t i c effect a n d advantages. T h e r e l a t i v e l y n e w a n d i n e x p e r i e n c e d m a n w i l l stress the t h e r a p e u t i c advantages a n d t e n d to i g n o r e the effects.
T h e e x p e r i e n c e d m a n w i l l present b o t h sides.
adverse
The physician
tolerates the first a n d w e l c o m e s the latter.
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A n i n c r e a s i n g p r o b l e m to the b u s y p h y s i c i a n is finding the t i m e for p o s t g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n . T h e d e t a i l m a n is n o e x c e p t i o n . T h e n u m b e r of p h a r a m a c e u t i c a l c o m p a n i e s seems to be i n c r e a s i n g , a n d m o r e t h a n 30 representatives n o w visit m y office as w e l l as m e n f r o m x-ray laboratories, c l i n i c a l laboratories, s u p p l y c o m p a n i e s , s u r g i c a l s u p p l y houses, etc.
Time
s i m p l y does not a l l o w f o r a session w i t h e a c h representative at e v e r y visit, a n d I a m sure that most p h y s i c i a n s h o p e that these m e n r e a l i z e this. E q u a l l y h e l p f u l is the presence of the d e t a i l m e n w i t h t h e i r t e c h n i c a l exhibits at m e d i c a l meetings.
H e r e the p h y s i c i a n , a w a y f r o m his office,
m a y seek the d r u g i n f o r m a t i o n he needs at his leisure. H e is at the meeti n g intent o n p o s t g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n a n d is " t u n e d i n " to the l e a r n i n g process. M o s t p h y s i c i a n s seek p o s t g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n at every o p p o r t u n i t y to k e e p abreast of n e w k n o w l e d g e a n d techniques.
T h e nearer these
e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s are to the b u s y p h y s i c i a n s , the better t h e i r a t t e n d a n c e since t h e y c a n c o n t i n u e to serve their patients. T h u s , the p o p u l a r i t y of p o s t g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n has i n c r e a s e d i n c o m m u n i t y hospitals.
The
p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y has p e r f o r m e d a great service i n c o n t r i b u t i n g so generously to these l o c a l seminars. M e n t i o n w a s m a d e p r e v i o u s l y to advertisements i n m e d i c a l journals as a means of c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the d r u g i n d u s t r y a n d the c l i n i c a l p h y s i c i a n . T h i s m e c h a n i s m m u s t rate h i g h o n the v a l u e scale of effectiveness i n p o s t g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n , a n d the observant d o c t o r recognizes a d o u b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n i n this source. F i r s t , h e has the o p p o r t u n i t y to scan q u i c k l y f o r names he does not r e c o g n i z e a n d w h i c h he m a y w i s h to p u r s u e f u r t h e r ; s e c o n d l y , he has a v a i l a b l e the benefits of the scientific articles i n a j o u r n a l m a d e e c o n o m i c a l l y possible b y the a d v e r t i s i n g . P e r h a p s the least effective means of c o m m u n i c a t i o n s is one w e l i v e w i t h d a i l y , one w h i c h fills o u r wastebaskets
a n d increases the l o a d o n
our j a n i t o r i a l services—the d i r e c t m a i l i n g s . A c c o r d i n g to D e n o a n d his colleagues i n 1959 ( 4 ) " A n eastern m e d i c a l j o u r n a l r e c e n t l y c o m p l e t e d a s u r v e y w h i c h i n d i c a t e d that the p r a c t i c i n g p h y s i c i a n receives a n n u a l l y b y d i r e c t m a i l m o r e t h a n 4,000 pieces of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l l i t e r a t u r e . "
I
h a v e no accurate statistics to offer f o r I c o u l d find n o n e I felt w e r e v a l i d .
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
15.
BURKET, JR.
Drugs and
Medical
M o s t pharmaceutical companies probably have b u t I w o n d e r a b o u t their a c c u r a c y .
273
Practice figures
o n this subject,
M y acquaintanceship w i t h physicians
s p a n this l a n d , a n d f r o m p e r s o n a l conversations of the d i r e c t m a i l i n g is never r e a d .
I c o n c l u d e that
most
Occasional worthwhile information
m a y b e missed, b u t there are just too m a n y e m p t y oyster shells to
find
the p e a r l .
New Drugs I suppose the p h y s i c i a n is a b o r n skeptic or perhaps becomes one
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i n m e d i c a l s c h o o l for a l t h o u g h he appreciates the benefits of n e w d r u g s , he does not t u r n to t h e m as r a p i d l y a n d as eagerly as his critics w o u l d l i k e to h a v e others believe. H e is a w a r e of possible t o x i c i t y a n d adverse side effects of d r u g s . H e k n o w s that most drugs i n p r o p e r dosage h e l p his patients i f his diagnosis is correct a n d that overdosage p r o d u c e s adverse effects a n d c a n be f a t a l . H e is c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h the drugs he k n o w s w e l l a n d c a n p r e s c r i b e w i t h confidence to p r o d u c e the t h e r a p e u t i c a n d p h y s i o l o g i c effect he desires. T h e m a j o r i t y of c l i n i c a l p h y s i c i a n s m o v e s l o w l y i n u s i n g n e w d r u g s . T h e y m u s t k n o w , specifically, w h a t advantages
a new medication
has
over a c u r r e n t one a n d h o w it w i l l fit into their a r m a m e n t of therapy. T h e y insist o n h a v i n g the i m p o r t a n t facts r e l a t i n g to p h y s i o l o g i c a l a c t i o n , dosage range, adverse effects, a n d possible short a n d l o n g range t o x i c i t y . O n l y t h e n w i l l most change to a n e w d r u g or a d d it to their list for t r i a l . O f t e n the p h y s i c i a n must d e c i d e w h e t h e r the benefits of a c e r t a i n d r u g o u t w e i g h its possible adverse effects. H o w e v e r , he has b e e n m a k i n g s u c h decisions since the days of H i p p o c r a t e s , a n d there is no i n d i c a t i o n that he intends to desert this r e s p o n s i b i l i t y n o w . A r i s t o t l e expressed it well (5).
"It is an easy matter to k n o w the effects of h o n e y , w i n e ,
helebone, c a u t e r y a n d c u t t i n g . B u t to k n o w h o w , for w h o m , a n d w h e n w e s h o u l d a p p l y t h e m — i s no less a n u n d e r t a k i n g t h a n b e i n g a p h y s i c i a n . " T h e difference t o d a y is that there are so m a n y m o r e scientifically v a l i d uses f o r drugs a n d so m a n y n e w drugs to consider.
S t i l l the w i s e
p h y s i c i a n does not m a k e decisions w i t h o u t facts. " E v e r y y e a r , " says p h a r m a c o l o g i s t L o u i s L a s a g n a ( β ) , "300 to 400 n e w f o r m u l a t i o n s h i t the m a r ket, e a c h w i t h a n average l i f e s p a n of w e l l u n d e r five years. these are m e r e l y c o m b i n a t i o n s of o l d r e m e d i e s — t h e r e
M a n y of
are 300 a n t i b i o t i c
preparations o n the market, b u t o n l y a d o z e n or so u s e f u l single a n t i b i o t i c s — b u t i n a n y case the d o c t o r is f a c e d w i t h the o v e r w h e l m i n g task of e v a l u a t i n g these n e w remedies, their c l a i m e d effects a n d side effects, and
i n t e g r a t i n g t h e m into his p r a c t i c e . "
The
young physician today
c e r t a i n l y faces a l i f e t i m e of l e a r n i n g . L e t us look n o w at the d i s p u t e c o n c e r n i n g tradenames a n d generic names f o r d r u g s . T h e average p h y s i c i a n has v i e w e d this t u g - o f - w a r w i t h
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
274
DRUG DISCOVERY
a m u s e m e n t a n d at times w i t h anger a n d a l a r m . M o s t w h o a d v o c a t e the change to generic p r e s c r i b i n g a n d the d i s c a r d i n g of tradenames are not i n c l i n i c a l m e d i c i n e a n d the " f r o n t - l i n e " of p a t i e n t care.
They simply
do not u n d e r s t a n d nor h a v e they e x p e r i e n c e d d a i l y office p r a c t i c e .
They
h a v e not f a c e d l o n g office schedules a n d evenings filled w i t h emergencies. A n y factor w h i c h w o u l d unnecessarily consume m o r e t i m e w o u l d p l a c e an
o v e r w h e l m i n g b u r d e n o n those w h o c a r r y a major p o r t i o n of
m e d i c a l care l o a d — t h e p r i m a r y p h y s i c i a n .
T h i s i n c l u d e s the
the
general
p r a c t i t i o n e r , the general internist, the g e n e r a l p e d i a t r i c i a n , a n d the gen-
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e r a l surgeon. I have no a r g u m e n t w i t h the t h o u g h t that the p h y s i c i a n s h o u l d k n o w the generic n a m e as w e l l as the t r a d e n a m e of the d r u g he prescribes. F u r t h e r m o r e , he s h o u l d k n o w the " f a m i l y " of drugs to w h i c h e a c h belongs. H o w e v e r , to r e q u i r e h i m to w r i t e the u s u a l l y l o n g generic n a m e rather t h a n the u s u a l l y shorter trade n a m e is to me unreasonable a n d a b s u r d . U n d o u b t e d l y , the use of generic p r e s c r i b i n g , i g n o r i n g the q u a l i t y of the d r u g i n v o l v e d , w o u l d result i n some l o w e r i n g of cost to the consumer. H o w e v e r , the m a n - h o u r s lost w o u l d most c e r t a i n l y result i n a n increase i n t o t a l h e a l t h care costs.
T o the economist this m a y seem i l l o g i c a l , b u t
to a b u s y p r i m a r y p h y s i c i a n it makes a great d e a l of sense. I a m f a m i l i a r w i t h a l l of the pros a n d cons i n this controversy, h a v i n g f o l l o w e d it w i t h interest the past f e w years, b u t the s i m p l e s a v i n g of t i m e w i t h o u t d e c r e a s i n g q u a l i t y i n the d e l i v e r y of h e a l t h care d u r i n g this era of h e a l t h m a n p o w e r shortage is the most salient of a l l .
Summary T h e w o r l d of drugs a n d the w o r l d of m e d i c a l care are r e v o l v i n g i n the same d i r e c t i o n w i t h a m a z i n g s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n . I n the w o r l d of m e d i c a l care the c l i n i c a l p h y s i c i a n has a great d e a l of respect a n d g r a t i t u d e for the i n d u s t r y that has p l a c e d at his d i s p o s a l m o r e drugs f o r p r e v e n t i n g a n d t r e a t i n g h u m a n ills t h a n at a n y t i m e i n history. T h e system w h i c h has b e e n d e v e l o p e d to p e r f o r m this task is c o m p l e x b u t f o l l o w s a definite p a t t e r n . It has d e v e l o p e d t h r o u g h c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n the d r u g i n d u s t r y , p r i v a t e a n d p u b l i c m e d i c a l institutions, a n d government. better system i n the w o r l d .
T h e r e is no
It w i l l change as t i m e dictates, b u t the p h y -
s i c i a n has every confidence that it w i l l a l w a y s serve the best interests of the A m e r i c a n p e o p l e . T h e m e t h o d s of c o m m u n i c a t i n g d r u g i n f o r m a t i o n to p h y s i c i a n s f o l l o w m a n y paths to m a n y areas a n d are i m p r o v i n g d a i l y .
A chief c o n c e r n is
the shortage of h e a l t h m a n p o w e r necessary to d e l i v e r the benefits of n e w t h e r a p y to those i n n e e d , b u t this is a p r o b l e m of the w o r l d of m e d i c a l care a n d not the w o r l d of d r u g s .
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
15.
BURKET, JR.
Drugs and Medical
Practice
275
A t times t h e p h y s i c i a n is a n n o y e d b y too m a n y tradenames f o r t h e same o r a s i m i l a r d r u g , b u t he is g r a t e f u l f o r t h e t r a d e n a m e f o r its ease i n d e t e r m i n i n g q u a l i t y a n d i n p r e s c r i b i n g . H e dislikes i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h stresses benefits of t h e r a p y w i t h o u t stating c l e a r l y adverse effects, b u t this is c h a n g i n g r a p i d l y . W h a t does t h e c l i n i c i a n expect of the d r u g i n d u s t r y i n t h e f u t u r e ? He
c o n f i d e n t l y expects m o r e m i r a c l e s f o r t o m o r r o w . S u c h ailments as
arteriosclerotic c a r d i o v a s c u l a r disease a n d cancer w h i c h together
with
h i g h w a y accidents a r e today's c h i e f k i l l e r s offer major challenges. T h e
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p h y s i c i a n is c e r t a i n that research scientists i n i n d u s t r y a n d p r i v a t e a n d p u b l i c m e d i c a l institutions w i l l c o n t i n u e to find n e w m e t h o d s t o diagnose a n d c u r e disease a n d that the system of d r u g m a n u f a c t u r i n g a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n w i l l b e c o m e e v e n m o r e efficient i n m a k i n g benefits a v a i l a b l e t o a l l .
Literature Cited (1) Barber, B., Ed., "Drugs and Society," The Russell Sage Foundation. (2) Goodman, L., Gilman, Α., "The Pharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics," 2nd ed., Macmillan, New York. (3) Keefer, Chester, "The Contributions of the Pharmaceutical," in "The Medicated Society," S. Proger, Ed., Macmillan, New York. (4) Deno, R. et al., in "Drugs and Society," B. Barber, Ed., The Russell Sage Foundation. (5) Lasagna, Louis, "Drugs through the Ages," in "The Medicated Society," S. Proger, Ed., Macmillan, New York. (6) Lasagna, Louis, "The Doctors Dilemma," in "The Medicated Society." (7) Garland, J., "Dissemination of Information on Drugs to the Physician," in "Drugs in Our Society," P. Talalay, Ed., The Johns Hopkins Press, 1964. RECEIVED November 5, 1970.
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
Discussion Warren J. Close: T o o p e n this d i s c u s s i o n , I s h a l l b r i n g u p a subject w h i c h has i m p o r t a n t i m p l i c a t i o n s in m a n y of the papers p r e s e n t e d t o d a y —i.e., the cost of research.
I n d e a l i n g with this matter I f e e l that w e are
too often c o n f u s i n g " r e s e a r c h " w i t h "research
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q u e n t l y I see
and development."
p u b l i s h e d d a t a l a b e l i n g c e r t a i n costs " r e s e a r c h "
Frewhen,
i n d e e d , the research a n d d e v e l o p m e n t process w a s b e i n g a l l u d e d to.
We
see this in financial analyses, too, a n d w e hear c o r p o r a t i o n heads u s i n g the t e r m " r e s e a r c h " w h e n i n d e e d they m e a n "research a n d d e v e l o p m e n t . " E v e n t o d a y , I n o t e d that some of o u r d i s t i n g u i s h e d panelists r e f e r r e d to " r e s e a r c h " w h e n they m e a n t "research a n d d e v e l o p m e n t . " T h e p o i n t I a m m a k i n g is t h i s : the d e v e l o p m e n t a c t i v i t y has different d i m e n s i o n s f r o m the research a c t i v i t y . If one w e r e to go to a research m a n a n d say, " D i s c o v e r a n e w synthesis
of P e n t o t h a l , " that
scientist
w o u l d not be able to p r e d i c t w i t h a n y degree of a c c u r a c y h o w l o n g i t w o u l d take him to d o this or h o w m u c h it w o u l d cost. H o w e v e r , i f he w e r e to succeed i n d i s c o v e r i n g a n e w process a n d w e r e to b r i n g i t to a d e v e l o p m e n t c h e m i s t a n d say, "I h a v e a n e w w a y of m a k i n g P e n t o t h a l ; h o w l o n g is i t g o i n g to take a n d h o w m u c h is it g o i n g to cost t o i n s t a l l this n e w process," t h e d e v e l o p m e n t c h e m i s t c a n m a k e p r e d i c t i o n s w i t h a n almost u n c a n n y degree of a c c u r a c y .
I t h i n k w e get into a bind w h e n
w e t r y to l u m p these t w o k i n d s of activities together.
I w o u l d l i k e to
refer this c o m m e n t to M r . B l e e ; I w o n d e r if he accepts this thesis
or
disagrees with it. Frank J. Blee: D r . C l o s e raises a v e r y interesting q u e s t i o n . W h e n I say research, I guess I u s u a l l y m e a n research a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d w h a t I m e a n is the a m o u n t of m o n e y that is spent o n the p e o p l e i n the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l chart f r o m d i r e c t o r of research a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o n d o w n to the lab technician.
I n other w o r d s , I refer to the process w h i c h is d e v o t e d
to d i s c o v e r i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g a new
d r u g p r o d u c t . T h i s is the creative
process of c o m i n g u p w i t h that u n i q u e n e w c h e m i c a l entity. I f e e l that this is the major reason for existence of the R e s e a r c h a n d D e v e l o p m e n t Division—development
meaning
getting
that
product
ready
for
the
market. T h e other s i t u a t i o n D r . C l o s e m e n t i o n s relates to p r o d u c t X w h i c h , let's say, y o u r c o m p a n y has b e e n m a k i n g for five years a n d thinks that i t c a n be m a d e cheaper. or not it c a n be m a d e c h e a p e r
someone
T h e attempt to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r
I w o u l d c a l l process
improvement.
276
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
I
277
DISCUSSION
w o u l d n ' t r e a l l y c a l l this research at a l l because y o u are not i n search of a n e w c o m p o u n d ; y o u are a t t e m p t i n g to l o w e r costs.
A l s o , I m i g h t say
q u a l i t y c o n t r o l — i n other w o r d s , the process that takes p l a c e i n t h e P r o d u c t i o n D i v i s i o n to insure that the p r o d u c t is u p to q u a l i t y — i s n o t research a n d d e v e l o p m e n t . W h a t the i n d u s t r y fails to r e a l i z e is that the figure w e talk a b o u t w h e n w e say 1 0 - 1 1 % of sales are spent o n R & D is a f a i r l y p u r e n u m b e r i n the sense that i t is d e v o t e d to d i s c o v e r i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g n e w p r o d ucts. N o w the a v e r a g e — a n d this is w h y I k e p t h a m m e r i n g a w a y o n the
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f a c t that the p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y is u n i q u e — t h e average f o r a l l U . S . i n d u s t r y is less t h a n 2 % , w h i c h means that this i n d u s t r y is s p e n d i n g at least 5 or m o r e times the average a m o u n t as a percentage of sales. A n other t h i n g is that a g o o d d e a l of that 2 %
of other industries is c a l l e d
research b u t is often n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n process i m p r o v e m e n t or cost r e d u c t i o n . If i n a c h e m i c a l c o m p a n y that is m a k i n g n y l o n s , for e x a m p l e , someone says, " L e t ' s l o w e r the cost," that's process i m p r o v e m e n t ; it's not research, b u t it m a y s h o w u p i n the R & D b u d g e t . A n o t h e r p o i n t to r e m e m b e r , as D r . C l o s e s a i d , i f y o u are f a c e d w i t h essentially a p r o d u c t i o n cost a c c o u n t i n g p r o b l e m , w h i c h is w h a t process i m p r o v e m e n t or cost r e d u c t i o n r e a l l y is, this is m u c h m o r e p r e d i c t a b l e t h a n the cost of d i s c o v e r i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g a n e w c o m p o u n d .
Indeed,
if the q u e s t i o n is asked t o d a y , " W h a t is the cost of d e v e l o p i n g a d r u g f o r P a r k i n s o n ' s disease," it w o u l d b e v i r t u a l l y i m p o s s i b l e t o a n s w e r because the l e n g t h of t i m e a n d m a n p o w e r r e q u i r e d are u n p r e d i c t a b l e . H a r r y Yale (to Brian Hoffman): I w o u l d q u e s t i o n y o u r
statement
r e g a r d i n g f a i l u r e to find another d r u g as u s e f u l as q u i n i d i n e . T h e r e is g o o d c l i n i c a l e v i d e n c e that p r o c a i n e a m i d e is a u s e f u l a n d effective m e d i cine.
F u r t h e r m o r e , the d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o c a i n e a m i d e w a s a l o g i c a l
development
based
on
observations
concerning
procaine
in
human
arrhythmias. D r . Hoffman: I don't disagree at a l l w i t h these statements.
I would
stick to w h a t I s a i d i n m y p a p e r , t h o u g h , that the a d v e n t of p r o c a i n e a m i d e , later d i p h e n y l h y d a n t o i n a n d l i d o c a i n e a n d most r e c e n t l y p r o p r a n o l o l , as a n t i a r r h y t h m i c agents was not the result of a n y d i r e c t or d e l i b e r a t e a t t e m p t b y i n d u s t r y to d e v e l o p u s e f u l a n t i a r r h y t h m i c agents. Some chance observations b y c a r d i a c surgeons suggested that p r o c a i n e m i g h t be a u s e f u l a n t i a r r h y t h m i c agent.
T h e subsequent d e v e l o p m e n t of
p r o c a i n e a m i d e is w h a t I w o u l d c a l l a g o o d e x a m p l e of g o a l - o r i e n t e d research i n i n d u s t r y . P r o c a i n e was u s e f u l b u t was f o u n d to have c e r t a i n disadvantages, p r i m a r i l y its short b i o l o g i c a l h a l f - l i f e a n d the ease w i t h which
it p e n e t r a t e d
the c e n t r a l nervous system.
To
overcome
these
obstacles was not too m u c h of a p r o b l e m for a g o o d chemist, a n d so a m o d i f i c a t i o n of p r o c a i n e — p r o c a i n e a m i d e — w a s m a d e .
It wasn't suscep-
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
278
DRUG DISCOVERY
t i b l e to r a p i d h y d r o l y s i s b y p l a s m a esterases a n d d i d n ' t penetrate r e a d i l y into the C N S a n d thus b e c a m e a g o o d a n t i a r r h y t h m i c
as
drug.
H o w e v e r , this is s i m p l y an i m p r o v e m e n t of a m o l e c u l e w h i c h d i d exist a n d w h e r e the necessary m a n i p u l a t i o n of the m o l e c u l e w a s rather m i n o r . W h a t I was t a l k i n g about this m o r n i n g was c o m p a n y - s p o n s o r e d p r o g r a m s w h i c h h a d as a g o a l the i n t r o d u c t i o n of n e w a n t i a r r h y t h m i c d r u g s .
I
t h i n k that u s e f u l a n t i a r r h y t h m i c d r u g s h a v e not c o m e a b o u t b y s e a r c h i n g for t h e m i n the l a b o r a t o r y .
D i l a n t i n was s h o w n b y M e r r i t t a n d P u t n a m
i n 1938 to be u s e f u l for e p i l e p s y , a n d almost b y c h a n c e it w a s b r o u g h t
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into the treatment of c a r d i a c a r r h y t h m i a s . L i d o c a i n e was b r o u g h t i n as a l o c a l anesthetic.
A g a i n almost b y c h a n c e it was f o u n d to b e a u s e f u l
a n t i a r r h y t h m i c , a n d n o w it's u s e d v e r y w i d e l y . So the a d d i t i o n s h a v e b e e n the k i n d of t h i n g that h a p p e n s w h e n s o m e b o d y w h o k n o w s a l i t t l e b i t about p h a r m a c o l o g y a n d m e d i c i n e is u s i n g drugs a n d makes observations that c l u e h i m i n o n other diseases or a b n o r m a l i t i e s w h e r e m i g h t be effective.
they
H o w e v e r , d e v e l o p m e n t of a n t i a r r h y t h m i c s , starting
f r o m scratch, I t h i n k has not s u c c e e d e d yet. I t h i n k one c o u l d say the same t h i n g for m a n y other classes of d r u g s . A s i m i l a r sort of h i s t o r y describes the search for better a n t i a n g i n a l agents than nitroglycerine. over the years.
M a n y c o r o n a r y vasodilators h a v e b e e n
developed
I t h i n k p e o p l e don't r e a l l y f e e l t h e y h a v e m a d e r e a l l y
significant a d d i t i o n s to the treatment
of a n g i n a w i t h t h e m except f o r
changes i n d u r a t i o n of a c t i o n perhaps, a n d this p r o b a b l y is because the benefit that comes f r o m n i t r o g l y c e r i n e is not solely the result of its a b i l i t y to d i l a t e the c o r o n a r y arteries.
W e l l this i n f o r m a t i o n d i d n ' t a c c u m u l a t e
u n t i l about 10 years ago, so for years a n d years p e o p l e t r i e d to d e v e l o p other c o r o n a r y dilators because they assumed that this was the
only
m a n n e r b y w h i c h n i t r o g l y c e r i n e was u s e f u l . N o w I t h i n k m o r e c o m p a n i e s are b e g i n n i n g to l o o k for a n t i a n g i n a l agents that r e d u c e the w o r k of the heart a n d d o other things so it m a y be successful.
So I w o n ' t disagree
w i t h D r . Y a l e , b u t I w i l l stick b y m y guns i n terms of w h a t I s a i d . D r . Yale (to George E . B u r k e t ) : Y o u h a v e stated that "the p h y s i c i a n s do not q u i c k l y p i c k u p n e w d r u g s u n t i l they are c o n v i n c e d of t h e i r m e r i t s . " H o w t h e n d o y o u e x p l a i n the p h e n o m e n a l g r o w t h of some of the recent d r u g entries, some of w h i c h have a h i g h i n c i d e n c e of side effects, f o r e x a m p l e , i n d o m e t h a c i n ? D r . Burket: F i r s t , I t h i n k y o u r e a l i z e that I u s e d the t e r m " m a j o r i t y of p h y s i c i a n s . " W e are a l l a w a r e that some i n d i v i d u a l s i n the m e d i c a l profession use d r u g s q u i c k l y a n d w i t h o u t c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n , b u t y o u k n o w w e l i k e to be c o m f o r t a b l e , a n d I t h i n k w i t h o u t k n o w i n g exactly the p h y s i o l o g i c a l effects of a d r u g , its adverse effects, its l o n g t e r m — o r at least its short t e r m — t o x i c effects, w e just don't sleep w e l l at n i g h t w h e n w e give s u c h d r u g s to patients.
A s an e x p l a n a t i o n f o r the specific
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
279
DISCUSSION
q u e s t i o n I t h i n k the p h y s i c i a n m u s t d e c i d e , as I stated i n m y presentation, w h e t h e r the benefits to a p a r t i c u l a r p a t i e n t — t h e
benefits that h e
will
r e c e i v e — o u t w e i g h p o s s i b l e adverse effects, a n d w e m u s t d o this w i t h a n i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r of drugs n o w . T h i s is w h y it is so i m p o r t a n t that w e k n o w the adverse effects so that w e c a n m a k e this d e c i s i o n p r o p e r l y . Dr.
Close:
I t h i n k w e ' l l t u r n b a c k to M r . B l e e a g a i n since w e h a v e a
f e w m o r e questions d i r e c t e d to h i m . Is the f a c t that i n d u s t r y p r o m o t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n costs are t w i c e those of research sufficient e v i d e n c e t h a t they are excessive? W h a t is the s t a n d a r d ? H o w d o other industries c o m -
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pare i n cost a n d services?
D o we know? Shouldn't w e k n o w more before
we judge? Mr.
Blee:
F i r s t I d i d n ' t say that they w e r e excessive.
I r a i s e d the
question, a n d I leave it to the i n d u s t r y to p o n d e r this p o i n t .
I d i d say
that o b v i o u s l y the i n d u s t r y m u s t t h i n k they're necessary or t h e y w o u l d not s p e n d the m o n e y .
I w o u l d say that i n general, g i v e n the f a c t that
most other industries s p e n d r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e o n research, i t is p r o b a b l y v e r y c o m m o n to s p e n d a g o o d d e a l m o r e o n a d v e r t i s i n g a n d p r o m o t i o n t h a n o n research.
E v e n t h o u g h this industry's research b u d g e t is
the
highest i n r e l a t i o n s h i p to sales ( 1 0 - 1 1 % ), its a d v e r t i s i n g is a g o o d d e a l more. I w o u l d say, h o w e v e r , that this is a s p e c i a l k i n d of i n d u s t r y , a n d the i n d u s t r y has to r e a l i z e this.
Y o u ' r e not s e l l i n g a u t o m o b i l e s , y o u ' r e
not s e l l i n g cosmetics, you're not s e l l i n g cigarettes.
There's a s p e c i a l p l a c e
i n the e c o n o m y for this i n d u s t r y ; there are s o c i a l overtones, a n d the econ o m i c s are u n i q u e a n d different.
It is n o t e n o u g h to c o m p a r e i t w i t h
another i n d u s t r y . I w o u l d also say, as I t h i n k w e a l l w e l l k n o w , that there are p l a n s u n d e r w a y w h i c h w o u l d r a d i c a l l y change the d i s t r i b u t i o n system.
For
e x a m p l e , i f drugs are ever i n c l u d e d i n the o u t - p a t i e n t p o r t i o n of M e d i care, i n o r d e r to process the n u m b e r of p r e s c r i p t i o n s that w i l l b e i n v o l v e d ( w h i c h c a n b e 200 or 300 m i l l i o n a y e a r ) , w e are g o i n g to h a v e to c o m e u p w i t h an a u t o m a t e d system to h a n d l e t h e m . T h i s w o u l d p r o b a b l y i n v o l v e slave units i n every r e t a i l p h a r m a c y i n the c o u n t r y f e e d i n g b a c k to c e n t r a l c o m p u t e r s . M y f e e l i n g is t e c h n o l o g i c a l l y this has to c o m e if e v e r y o n e is c o v e r e d i n the n a t i o n , a n d i n d e e d y o u a l l w e l l k n o w t h e y are t a l k i n g about a N a t i o n a l H e a l t h P l a n w h e r e e v e r y b o d y w o u l d
be
c o v e r e d . Just m u l t i p l y that 200 m i l l i o n b y 5, a n d n o w y o u have a h u g e t e c h n o l o g i c a l p r o b l e m w h i c h w i l l o n l y be s o l v e d b y a u t o m a t i o n .
When
that h a p p e n s , y o u c a n h a v e a r a d i c a l change i n the present d i s t r i b u t i o n system. If the i n d u s t r y isn't r e a d y f o r it, this c a n cause s u b s t a n t i a l consequences.
It is i n c u m b e n t u p o n i n d u s t r y to w o r k w i t h the p r o b l e m n o w
because there's no q u e s t i o n that it's a v e r y expensive system.
Again, I'll
not say that it isn't a g o o d system, b u t I w o u l d also say to y o u that the i n d u s t r y has not c o n v i n c e d the g o v e r n m e n t ( a n d I don't m e a n the F D A ,
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
280
DRUG DISCOVERY
p e r se; I ' m t a l k i n g a b o u t H E W a n d I ' m t a l k i n g a b o u t H E W economists ) that they c a n justify t h e i r a d v e r t i s i n g a n d p r o m o t i o n expenditures.
They
haven't c o n v i n c e d Senator N e l s o n — n o t at a l l . So they've got a lot of w o r k to d o . D r . Close: I w o n d e r i f o u r i n d u s t r y representative, D r . W e s c o e ,
has
a n y c o m m e n t s to m a k e i n r e g a r d to that. D r . Wescoe: N o , I h a v e n o c o m m e n t at this t i m e . D r . Close: I was a l i t t l e s u r p r i s e d that w e r e c e i v e d no d i r e c t e d to D r . Jennings.
questions
A f t e r his presentation, I t o l d D r . Jennings
I
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t h o u g h t he gave a v e r y s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d a n d f r a n k p i c t u r e that w a s at v a r i a n c e w i t h the w a y some of us v i e w e d research i n the d r u g i n d u s t r y . I w o u l d l i k e to b e e q u a l l y f r a n k a n d s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d w i t h h i m a n d pose a q u e s t i o n to h i m of m y o w n . D r . Jennings,
y o u h a v e u s e d the phrase, " m o l e c u l a r m a n i p u l a t i o n , "
w h i c h , of course, has s o m e t h i n g of a n u n d e r h a n d e d c o n n o t a t i o n .
Medici-
n a l chemists use the t e r m " m o l e c u l a r m o d i f i c a t i o n " ; w e f e e l that this t e r m is m o r e suitable f o r a process w h i c h w e consider to be a respectable necessary f o r m of research.
and
W e a l l k n o w that v e r y s m a l l m o d i f i c a t i o n s of
molecules c a n result i n q u i t e p r o f o u n d changes i n b i o l o g i c a l a c t i v i t y . T h e steroids are a g o o d e x a m p l e of this; i t doesn't take m u c h o f a change to get f r o m a f e m a l e h o r m o n e to a m a l e h o r m o n e , a n d yet most of us t h i n k the difference is i m p o r t a n t . I w o u l d l i k e to ask D r . Jennings i f h e doesn't r e a l l y b e l i e v e that m o l e c u l a r m o d i f i c a t i o n is a necessary a n d u s e f u l p a r t of the research process? John J. Jennings: O f course i t is. I c e r t a i n l y d i d n ' t m e a n to d o w n g r a d e it at a l l . I t h i n k one of the questions that has b e e n r u n n i n g t h r o u g h the discussions h e r e is research vs. d e v e l o p m e n t .
D r . Hoffman pointed
out that it took m o l e c u l a r m o d i f i c a t i o n or m a n i p u l a t i o n to m a k e p r o c a i n e a useful antiarrhythmic drug.
O f course, I t h i n k this falls
between discovery and development.
somewhere
It is not t r u l y d i s c o v e r y , a n d yet
it is a l i t t l e b i t m o r e t h a n c o s t - l o w e r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t . C e r t a i n l y w e n e e d the m o l e c u l a r m a n i p u l a t i o n s that result i n i m p r o v e d p r o d u c t s i n the sense of the e x a m p l e c i t e d here b y D r . H o f f m a n . D o w e n e e d m o l e c u l a r m a n i p u l a t i o n s that a l l o w us to h a v e m u l t i p l e entries i n t o the same area so that n o w w e g i v e 0.5 m g p e r dose i n s t e a d of 50 m g ? W h a t benefit is there to i n c r e a s i n g the p e r m i l l i g r a m p o t e n c y w h e n side effects are
as i n c r e a s e d
p e r m i l l i g r a m as the
therapeutic
benefits? M y w h o l e a r g u m e n t , a n d I offer it s i m p l y as a p r o p o s a l , is that resources b e so d e p l o y e d that w e m i g h t b e i n a better p o s i t i o n to p i c k u p the leads that h a v e b e e n m e n t i o n e d o v e r a n d o v e r t o d a y . T h e s e leads are t r u l y the origins of i n n o v a t i o n s . I n no w a y d o I d o w n g r a d e the fine techn o l o g i c a l apparatus that exists i n the d r u g i n d u s t r y t o d a y that a l l o w s these
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
281
DISCUSSION
i n n o v a t i o n s once r e c o g n i z e d to be b r o u g h t to the p o i n t w h e r e they are feasible t h e r a p e u t i c agents. W h a t I ' m t r y i n g to say is that since w e d o accept the studies, the results of scientific studies i n other areas, w h y not i n this area? A n d l e t s just see i f w e are not o v e r l o o k i n g possibilities f o r n e w discoveries. w o u l d h o p e that the l o d e has not b e e n m i n e d out.
I
I w o u l d sincerely
h o p e that there are m a n y n e w discoveries w a i t i n g to be m a d e , a n d m y w h o l e a r g u m e n t is that w e o u g h t to be e x a m i n i n g the apparatus to see w h e t h e r or not there isn't some w a y of i n c r e a s i n g the f r e q u e n c y of these
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i n n o v a t i v e discoveries a n d r e c o g n i z i n g t h e m a n d t h e n p u t t i n g t h e m into this m i l l . Dr.
Close: I w o n d e r i f perhaps D r . W e s c o e m i g h t h a v e some c o m -
ments to m a k e o n this same subject. Dr.
Wescoe: I t h i n k p e r h a p s there is another w a y to l o o k at it.
p a r t I agree w i t h D r . Jennings, a n d i n p a r t I disagree.
In
I agree w i t h h i m
i n that the r e d u c t i o n i n s o - c a l l e d n e w c o m p o u n d s is not r e l a t e d p r i m a r i l y to the 1962 a m e n d m e n t s .
I t h i n k w h e n w e b e g i n to date things f r o m that
p o i n t w e r e a l l y m a k e a mistake. T h e fact of the matter is, D r . Jennings, that d i s c o v e r y has b e c o m e m o r e difficult, that p e r h a p s the l o d e has b e e n m i n e d to the p o i n t w h e r e d i s c o v e r y is g o i n g to be less r a p i d t h a n it u s e d to be. T h e p e r i o d i c table of the elements r e a l l y isn't c h a n g i n g , a n d m a n y of the molecules that are possible h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n d i s c o v e r e d , p r e p a r e d , or i n v e s t i g a t e d b y someone. T h i s means we're g o i n g to have to go b a c k over some of the o l d g r o u n d , a n d that is research.
I n fact, O t t o L o e w i w o n the N o b e l p r i z e
o n the basis of an e x p e r i m e n t w i t h the isolated f r o g heart.
This experi-
m e n t h a d b e e n t r i e d a d o z e n times b y others w i t h o u t significant result. T h e o n l y reason it w o r k e d i n his hands is that he u s e d the w i n t e r f r o g a n d not the s u m m e r f r o g . H e w o n the N o b e l p r i z e because he was w i l l i n g to repeat s o m e t h i n g w h i c h someone else h a d a l r e a d y done.
I n just the
same w a y w e w e r e w i l l i n g to repeat the w o r k w h i c h l e d to w h a t y o u c a l l e d a r e j u v e n a t e d s u l f o n a m i d e . F o r that w e m a k e no a p o l o g y b e c a u s e the c o m p o u n d has saved lives. I t h i n k things l i k e that are i m p o r t a n t ; I don't t h i n k that research w o r k that goes b a c k over the o l d fields a n d b r i n g s b a c k s o m e t h i n g that is r e a l l y an i m p r o v e m e n t s h o u l d be d e r i d e d . N o r d o I t h i n k , as y o u i n d i c a t e d just i n passing, that the p e o p l e i n this r o o m , a n d y o u a n d I, represent factions.
W e represent the
entire
system, a system that r e a l l y c a n w o r k together n o w i n m u t u a l trust t h r o u g h a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the p r o b l e m s that each of us faces.
We
can't a l w a y s be o n the same side of the l i n e , b u t w e c a n b e together f r o m the s t a n d p o i n t of i n t e g r i t y a n d the t r u t h . T o d a y , d i s c o v e r y is m o r e difficult. R e a d i n g the scientific m a t e r i a l , h a v i n g l i v e d i n a u n i v e r s i t y for 18 years, I a m a w a r e that the great, the
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
282
DRUG DISCOVERY
m o n u m e n t a l discoveries r e a l l y are not c o m i n g t h r o u g h i n the w a y they d i d i n the past. W e sometimes n e e d a significant b r e a k t h r o u g h i n another area before w e c a n m a k e one i n a field s u c h as ours. B e y o n d that I t h i n k e v e r y o n e s h o u l d k n o w that research institutes a n d the p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r y do not neglect i n n o v a t i v e research—that
there isn't a n y b o d y
w h o w o u l d rather h a v e a great b r e a k t h r o u g h t h a n w e .
It is that
great
b r e a k t h r o u g h that w e ' r e l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to, b u t it takes a l o n g t i m e to c o m e u p w i t h one. W h e n one does c o m e u p , I c a n assure y o u that there w i l l be some sort of w o r k d o n e b y w a y of m o l e c u l a r r e a r r a n g e m e n t
to
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find i n some w a y a better p r o d u c t . F i n a l l y , I w o u l d l i k e to repeat that I b e l i e v e the t h r u s t t o w a r d one m e d i c a t i o n for one i n d i c a t i o n is w r o n g . I t h o u g h t m a y b e D r . B u r k e t w o u l d c o m m e n t u p o n that because I t h i n k the c l i n i c i a n needs the c h o i c e of substances that m i g h t d o n e a r l y the same t h i n g because he m i g h t h a v e a p a t i e n t w h o responds to one better t h a n he does to another.
T h a t is
one of the bases of p h a r m a c o l o g y a n d w h a t someone else m e n t i o n e d this m o r n i n g , the infinite v a r i a t i o n i n b i o l o g i c response. D r . Close: D r . B u r k e t , d o y o u w i s h to c o m m e n t o n this issue? D r . Burket: I hesitate to p u t a p e r s o n a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o n D r . Jenn i n g s ' r e m a r k , b u t I have a f e e l i n g that it m a y stem f r o m the f a c t that he was at one t i m e i n c l i n i c a l m e d i c i n e before he a s s u m e d h i s present position.
I n o u r offices i n m e d i c i n e the d e t a i l m e n use this at t i m e s —
this sort of m o l e c u l a r m a n i p u l a t i o n game.
T h e y b r i n g their l i t t l e books
i n w i t h t h e m a n d o p e n t h e m a n d s h o w h o w they have s w i t c h e d the molecules
a n d m a d e t h e i r p r o d u c t a great
competitor's.
d e a l different f r o m t h e i r
W h e n w e s t u d y it v e r y c a r e f u l l y , sometimes
the
actual
benefits c l i n i c a l l y are not that great, a n d I just w o n d e r i f m a y b e this d i d n ' t affect D r . J e n n i n g s '
attitude
somewhat.
I
d o agree w i t h
Dr.
W e s c o e , h o w e v e r , that w e d o a p p r e c i a t e h a v i n g a c h o i c e of v a l u a b l e d r u g s that w e c a n use w i t h o u r patients because m a n y times w e r u n into sensitivities w i t h one d r u g , a n d w e w o u l d l i k e to h a v e one that does not have these adverse effects b u t s t i l l has the same t h e r a p e u t i c benefit. Question from the floor: I w o u l d l i k e to ask a l e g a l or u n e m o t i o n a l q u e s t i o n of D r . Jennings.
Y o u c i t e d several parts of the m a n d a t e f r o m
C o n g r e s s to the F D A . I ' d l i k e to ask w h e t h e r or not i n c l u d e d i n this m a n d a t e is the j u d g m e n t as to w h e t h e r a n e w m o l e c u l a r m o d i f i c a t i o n is not d e s i r a b l e e v e n t h o u g h it is efficacious a n d safe or r e l a t i v e l y so.
Do
y o u have the m a n d a t e to d e c i d e w h e t h e r the m e d i c a l p r o f e s s i o n has too m a n y diuretics or too m a n y c o m p o u n d s i n a n y other class? D r . Jennings: I ' l l answer the q u e s t i o n d i r e c t l y , t h e n I ' d l i k e to r e t u r n to some of the d i s c u s s i o n that w e n t o n here because I t h i n k that there's some c o n f u s i o n . W e h a v e a f e w questions m i x e d i n together.
F i r s t of a l l ,
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
283
DISCUSSION
the l a w does not g i v e us a n y a u t h o r i t y to d e t e r m i n e that there are too m a n y of a n y class of d r u g s . I was not s p e a k i n g as a r e g u l a t o r w h e n I a s k e d that w e consider, u n e m o t i o n a l l y a n d scientifically, the q u e s t i o n of w h e t h e r w e are g o i n g a b o u t o u r search f o r n e w d r u g s i n the most efficient way.
N o t o n l y are w e not a l l o w e d to m a k e a d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t there
are too m a n y of a p a r t i c u l a r class of d r u g s a n d thus stop a p p r o v a l of f u r t h e r d r u g s i n that class, w e are not even a l l o w e d to m a k e a d e t e r m i n a t i o n that one d r u g is not as effective as other d r u g s i n the same category a n d , therefore, s h o u l d not b e a l l o w e d o n the m a r k e t .
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T h e legislative h i s t o r y of the act is q u i t e clear o n this p o i n t , the s o - c a l l e d c o m p a r a t i v e efficacy.
T h i s does not enter i n t o the
argument.
W h a t does enter i n t o it, of course, is the benefit-to-risk r a t i o of a n y d r u g . L e t m e a p o l o g i z e i f I s e e m e d to h a v e s p o k e n s l i g h t i n g l y of m o l e c u l a r m a n i p u l a t i o n . I t h i n k it is not o n l y d e s i r a b l e b u t a b s o l u t e l y necessary i n o r d e r to r e n d e r the d r u g t r u l y u s e f u l . H o w e v e r , s p e a k i n g n o t as one w h o m u s t pass an a p p l i c a t i o n , b u t as one w h o , as D r . W e s c o e p o i n t e d out, is a p a r t of this system a n d is c o n c e r n e d w i t h the u l t i m a t e p r o d u c t i v i t y of the system, I a m c o n c e r n e d w i t h the u t i l i z a t i o n of resources to d e v e l o p another t h i a z i d e that n o w c a n be g i v e n i n s m a l l e r dosages, another p h e n o t h i a z i n e , another c o r t i c o s t e r o i d w i t h no t r e m e n d o u s increase
i n thera-
p e u t i c ratio, n o t r e m e n d o u s increase i n risk-to-benefit r a t i o . M y w h o l e q u e s t i o n to y o u was s i m p l y t h i s — a r e
we overlooking
s o m e t h i n g ? I u s e d a sort of m i l i t a r y a n a l o g y . W e are a t t a c k i n g the p r o b l e m w i t h a massive f r o n t a l a s s a u l t — a h u m a n w a v e sort of t h i n g — w h e n the e n e m y is so elusive that p e r h a p s w h a t w e n e e d is m o r e p a t r o l s o u t there, m o r e scouts, m o r e p r o b i n g e x p e d i t i o n s . M a y b e w e n e e d some w a y to r e c o g n i z e these s e r e n d i p i t o u s
findings.
I t h i n k the starting p o i n t s h o u l d be a v o y a g e of d i s c o v e r y b u t c e r t a i n l y t o w a r d the e n d , or after a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of this t y p e of i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w e m u s t t u r n to the h e a v i l y financed, w e l l e q u i p p e d i n d u s t r i a l l a b o r a t o r y to b r i n g the p r o d u c t to a p o i n t w h e r e it w i l l b e v i a b l e i n today's m e d i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n . T h a t was m y w h o l e p o i n t . I d i d n o t d e c r y the efforts. I a p p l a u d the efforts of i m p r o v i n g p r o d u c t s a n d l o w e r i n g costs, a n d I p o i n t e d out that the t r e m e n d o u s , u n i q u e l y A m e r i c a n t e c h n o l o g y makes i t p o s s i b l e for these discoveries to b e b r o u g h t to a p o i n t w h e r e t h e y c a n b e useful.
B u t o r i g i n a l discoveries have b e e n
d e c l i n i n g since
the
early
1950's, a n d I just suggested that p a r t of the e x p l a n a t i o n m i g h t b e t h a t w e are not p r o v i d i n g the p r o p e r c l i m a t e f o r this t y p e of d i s c o v e r y . A n o t h e r p o i n t was b r o u g h t u p , a n d I m u s t a d m i t that it w a s the first t i m e that I e n c o u n t e r e d it, a l t h o u g h it c a m e u p a g a i n a n d a g a i n : the i d e a of a single entity for a single disease.
I k n o w of no p o l i c y , I k n o w of n o
r e g u l a t i o n , I k n o w of no a u t h o r i t y i n o u r act, I k n o w of n o t e n d e n c y o n the p a r t of the agency, to a d v a n c e that concept.
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
284
DRUG
DISCOVERY
Glenn Ullyot to D r . Jennings: I t h i n k w e r e a l l g o i n g i n the same d i r e c t i o n , b u t there's a p o i n t that's v e r y m u c h m i s s e d , a l t h o u g h D r . H o f f m a n a n d D r . W e s c o e h a v e a l l u d e d to i t i n some w a y s . W e a l l w o u l d l i k e to get the b r e a k t h r o u g h , b u t w h a t y o u h a v e to s t u d y is h o w some of the r e a l b r e a k t h r o u g h s c a m e about.
W e w o r k w i t h w h a t w e k n o w , a n d it's
l i k e g o i n g i n an e v e r - w i d e n i n g c i r c l e .
L e t ' s just take one r e a l e x a m p l e :
i n studies o n the antihistamines, the p h e n o t h i a z i n e s c a m e a l o n g . It w a s o b s e r v e d that they p r o d u c e d a sedative effect, a n d i t w a s d e c i d e d that this m i g h t b e a n area to p u r s u e . W h e n L a r g a c t i l , the l y t i c c o c k t a i l , c a m e
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a l o n g , the c o n c e p t that it w o u l d b e u s e d to treat m e n t a l a n d e m o t i o n a l disease h a d n ' t d e v e l o p e d yet.
It just h a p p e n e d that w h e n w e e v e n t u a l l y
b e c a m e i n v o l v e d ( a n d it w o u l d be a n interesting story t o t e l l y o u h o w that c a m e a b o u t ) L a r g a c t i l (as T h o r a z i n e ) w e n t o n the m a r k e t i n this c o u n t r y f o r t r e a t i n g nausea a n d v o m i t i n g . T h e t r a n q u i l i z i n g effect w a s t h e n d i s c o v e r e d i n the c l i n i c . W e c o u l d not h a v e p r e d i c t e d this. So one w o r k s w i t h the tools that w e h a v e to p r o c e e d f r o m one p o i n t to the next, a n d i n this process w e m a k e these discoveries.
M a n y other examples of
h o w drugs are t r u l y d i s c o v e r e d c o u l d b e g i v e n ; these discoveries are not a l w a y s as r e p o r t e d i n the literature. Question from the floor: W e ' v e h e a r d the t e r m " o r i g i n a l d i s c o v e r i e s " for some t i m e . I w o u l d l i k e D r . Jennings to define " o r i g i n a l d i s c o v e r i e s " because w e a l l k n o w these d o not c o m e as flashes of l i g h t . T h e y are often c o n t r i b u t i o n s of m a n y p e o p l e .
W h a t is y o u r d e f i n i t i o n of an " o r i g i n a l
discovery"? D r . Jennings: I ' m not sure that I c a n give one that w o u l d satisfy e v e r y b o d y , b u t the examples that have b e e n c i t e d here w o u l d suffice.
I
w o u l d say that i t is the p u t t i n g together of a u n i q u e or n e w or n o v e l c h e m i c a l entity for t r e a t i n g a c l i n i c a l disease w h i c h heretofore has not b e e n treated w i t h that p a r t i c u l a r c h e m i c a l entity.
I t h i n k it b o i l s d o w n
to the o r i g i n a l l i n k i n g of a c h e m i c a l entity, since w e ' r e t a l k i n g a b o u t d r u g s , w i t h a c l i n i c a l entity.
The
finding
that i s o n i a z i d e h a d the effect
o n the c e n t r a l nervous system that it d i d is an e x a m p l e of this. q u i n i d i n e a n d a n t i a r r h y t h m i a story is another e x a m p l e .
The
T h e effects of
the corticosteroids o n the i n f l a m m a t o r y process is a f u r t h e r e x a m p l e .
In
contrast to o r i g i n a l d i s c o v e r y of that sort w o u l d b e the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d refinement of the d r u g . W h e r e this stops b e i n g research starts b e i n g d e v e l o p m e n t I ' l l leave to the economists. p a r t i c u l a r l y care a b o u t that.
and
I ' m not sure that I
M y w h o l e modest p r o p o s i t i o n w a s that w e
m i g h t not b e d o i n g a l l w e c a n to m a k e sure that w e are p r o v i d i n g a c l i m a t e for o r i g i n a l discoveries of this sort a n d t h e n the r e c o g n i t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e m .
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
285
DISCUSSION
Dr.
Close:
T h a n k y o u , D r . Jennings.
I b e l i e v e w e h a v e c o v e r e d es-
sentially a l l of the questions w h i c h w e r e s u b m i t t e d to m e . G l e n n , d o y o u h a v e f i n a l c o m m e n t s b e f o r e w e close? Dr.
Ullyot:
I w a n t to t h a n k o u r speakers a n d panelists f o r t a k i n g the
t i m e to c o m e here a n d talk to us t o d a y . W e h a v e r e v i e w e d i n a v e r y t h o r o u g h m a n n e r the system of d r u g d i s c o v e r y a n d d e v e l o p m e n t a n d the
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p r o b l e m s associated w i t h it.
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.