Pharmaceuticals – Pharma University

The history of pharmaceuticals

Cecile Barrows — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 05:05:26 +0000

The world of medicine has come a long way since human civilization. Many diseases that were once incurable are now treatable. According to Homer’s mythology, the ancient Egyptians developed more than 500 medicinal formulas back in 1550 BC and most of their therapeutic effects were delivered through spiritual healing rather than drugs. You can read more about this subject right here on this website.Pharmaphorum and its historyThe history of the pharmaceutical industry dates back to the middle ages, but the industry did not develop until 19th century. Although the scientific revolution of the 18th century had its own ideas of rationalism, pharmaceuticals were not properly developed for human health until later in 18th century. You can read the following articles that appear on this website about the history of the pharmaceutical industry at pharmaphorum.com.Pharmaceutical companiesThe origins of GlaxoSmithKline can be traced back as far as 1700, but it wasn’t until the middle of 19th century that Beecham entered the medicine industry. Meanwhile, in America, Pfizer was founded by two German immigrants in 1849. Their business rapidly grew during the American civil war when demand for antiseptics and painkillers was high.As Pfizer was selling medicines during the war, a young commander (Eli Lilly) was a trained chemist and launched his pharmaceutical business in 1876. He became a pioneer of new methods in the medicine industry and focused mainly on R&D manufacturing. He set up a lab in 1858 and just like Pfizer; he supplied medicine to the armed forces.European pharma companiesMeanwhile, Switzerland also developed home-grown medicines in the late 19th century. This country was previously known for trading textiles, but soon, Swiss manufacturers started to realise that they can also sell antiseptics. Soon the Swiss pharma industry took off and demand for high quality medicines from other countries increased. However, it wasn’t just Switzerland that had its roots in the textile industry and later moved into medicines. Bayer also commercialised aspirin in 1863 and became one of the most successful companies from that point.

The world’s most commonly used pharmaceuticals

Cecile Barrows — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 09:07:06 +0000

From modest beginnings in the mid-19th century, the pharmaceutical industry has grown exponentially to become one of the world’s most important industries. New drugs are constantly being developed, and by a process of natural selection, many disappear into oblivion while others, due to their proven efficacy, become the most widely-used pharmaceutical drugs. Statistics published by WebMD and Medscape.com show that, currently, these include the following drugs:AripiprazoleAripiprazole is manufactured under the brand name, Abilify, and prescribed for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Approved in 2002, aripiprazole was developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical in Japan, a company better known for their popular sports and energy drinks.EsomeprazoleProduced by AstraZenica under the Nexium brand name, Esomeprazole is a stomach acid inhibitor. It is commonly prescribed for conditions such as peptic ulcer and dyspepsia.AdalimumabAlso known by the brand name, Humira, this is an anti-inflammatory drug produced by Abbot Laboratories and commonly used in the treatment of several conditions including: arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.RosuvastatinBetter known by its brand name, Crestor, this statin-class drug is widely prescribed for the purpose of cholesterol control and cardiovascular disease prevention. Rosuvastatin is manufactured by AstraZeneca as well as by other pharmaceutical companies.Fluticasone/salmeterolThis is a combination preparation used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is produced by GlaxoSmithKline under the brand name, Advair.

Top 3 Biggset Pharmaceutical Companies in the World

Cecile Barrows — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 20:57:59 +0000

When it comes to pharmaceutical companies, there are several global players who dominate the market. These companies manufacture a range of medications and medical devices which have helped change the face of the medical industry. We reveal the top 3 pharmaceutical companies in the world based on their sales revenues in 2014. Pfizer Inc.The third largest pharmaceutical company in the world is Pfizer Inc. Headquartered in New York, this American company was founded in 1849 by Charles Erhart and Charles Pfizer. The company develops a range of vaccinations and medications for the cardiology, oncology, immunology, and neurology sectors. Some of their most famous medications include Lyrica, Lipitor, Viagra and Celebra. Their sales revenue in 2014 was $52.7 billion.NovartisFormed in 1996, this Swiss pharma company had sales in excess of $57.2 billion in 2014. The company is divided into no less than six divisions for vaccines, eye care, generic consumer drugs, corporate ventures as well as animal health. Some of the major drugs manufactured by Novartis include Clozaril, Tegretol, Diovan, Glivec and Femara.Johnson and JohnsonJohnson and Johnson are the leading pharmaceutical company in the world. As an American company that was founded in 1886, Johnson and Johnson are leading innovators when it comes to consumer products, medical devices and diagnostics. They manufacture a range of household brand names including Band-aid, Tylenol, Clean and Clear, and Acuvue. With the recent developments in groundbreaking medication including Sirturo, the first ever tuberculosis drug that has had some promising results, Johnson and Johnson’s $65.03 billion sales are only set to increase over the coming years.These are the top three big pharma companies in the world. Other big names that are worthy of a mention include Roche, Sanofi, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline.

Biggest Pharmaceutical Breakthroughs Of The Last Year

Cecile Barrows — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 14:56:43 +0000

There were some amazing pharmaceutical breakthroughs in 2014, from increasing longevity to a possible cure for Ebola. Read on to find out more about these remarkable findings.It’s all about the animals!A study released at the beginning of 2014 by the AIDS Research Center at Rockefeller University, showed that monkeys who had received regular antiretroviral drugs injections were 100% protected from developing AIDS. Work is under way to replicate this effect in humans.Towards the end of the year, scientists were able to compare the genomes of the bowhead whale with that of other animals, allowing them to identify the various markers that enable the magnificent creatures to have a long life – it is thought that this information could be used to understand how humans can increase their own life spans.Cures and VaccinesIn November, a team of scientists from Germany presented research that appears to have identified the fault with a protein called Ras. It is understood that when this protein malfunctions, it encourages cells to grow, in turn causing cancer. The scientists believe that by blocking the protein that carries Ras they can prevent cancer from occurring in the first place.Ebola has been on many minds this last year and for good reason; the haemorrhagic fever killed more than 5000 people. Towards the end of the year, researchers undertook a Phase 1 trial of a new Ebola vaccine and the results so far have been promising. All of the adults who were injected have developed the antibodies that are needed to fight off the virus. This could eventually lead to a cure for Ebola.