Introduction

The primary purpose of the A to Z is to provide an accessible, easy-to-use survey of current research in the pharmaceutical industry operating in Great Britain and overseas. It is structured so as to be understandable to the non-specialist, and to act as a source of general information for everyone with a personal or professional interest in healthcare. It is not a scientific document, and no attempt is made to detail the many complex theories that underpin modern medical research: those parts that refer to the way medicines work are invariably over-simplified. The section entitled ‘Medicines Research Today’ and the glossary define some of the technical terms used and attempt to put British medicines research into perspective within the world scene.

Many factors determine the choice and direction of research, and the balance of projects today is shifting significantly from previous decades. While the 1960s focused on antibiotics, and the 1980s on research into the central nervous system, the 1990s on monoclonal antibodies and molecular biology, the early years of this century are likely to be shaped far more by the new science of genetics and the Human Genome Project. These will have a big impact on many diseases, especially those with a hereditary component.

The issue of investment by the pharmaceutical industry is not addressed in detail. However, a summary is provided on trends in research expenditure. This is supplemented by recent data provided by the biotechnology sector and the larger UK-based pharmaceutical companies. It is difficult to determine the level of research expenditure in Britain by the international companies who operate here. It often cannot accurately be identified from the world-wide data available, but is undoubtedly significant.

Brief reference is made to Government and charity-supported research. The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry, academic, and NHS based research teams has continued to strengthen and remains an essential element in the fight against disease.

Inevitably, this booklet cannot be more than a snapshot of what is going on, because research and investment priorities are constantly changing. In particular, the reader should be aware that, through lack of space, there are many areas of ongoing work that have not been included in the fourth edition. These days, the internet is a prime source of information, and readers are advised to use it to explore the status of candidate medicines mentioned in the A to Z of Medicines Research.