Dictionary of Drugs [antikvár]

Preface The constant search for new drugs and the continuous development of existing products has resulted in an ever-increasing amount of information available to the chemist working in this area. The aim of this Dictionary is to provide the definitive source of concise, easily accessed factual data on all of the most significant drugs currently in use or late development worldwide. The term 'drug' is generally taken to mean a substance approved for clinical use by some regulatory body; for this Dictionary the term has been extended to include compounds of significant pharmacological interest which are either in the process of gaining clinical approval or which are no longer in widespread clinical use. For those compounds currently in clinical use we have included all those drugs to be found in the most recent editions of generic name listings (US Adopted Names 1989, International Nonproprietary Names Volume 7 and British Approved Names 1986, Suppl. 6). Also included within the scope of the Dictionary are a number of biologically active compounds of plant origin which have been used in folk medicine. We have not included pesticides or pharmacologically inactive substances used in the preparation of pharmaceutical products. Some of the entries in this Dictionary are based on the Fifth Edition of the Dictionary of Organic Compounds (1982) and its supplements. These entries have been substantially updated and the coverage extended to include a large number of references to biological activity. Where possible cross-references have been made to works providing further pharmacological and clinical information such as Martindale's Extra Pharmacopoeia. Much of the physical property data contained in this work has been taken from the patent literature, frequently the only information source for newly-developed drugs. With a work of this nature some omissions are inevitable, but it is hoped that these have been kept to a minimum. We expect to produce supplements or new editions to this Dictionary and so users are encouraged to express their comments or suggestions for inclusion to the Editor or Publishers. The original Editor of this Dictionary was Dr Joseph Elks, formerly of Glaxo Group research, who began work on it in 1985. It is a matter of deep regret that Dr Elks died in November 1988 and was unable to see the results of his labours. The editorial function was taken over by C.R.G. supported by the three Editorial Advisors, and we wish to acknowledge with grateful thanks and remembrance the work which Joe Elks carried out on the project by the time of his death. P.S. Anderson C.R. Ganellin P.S. Portoghese J.B. Stenlake