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Professor Geoffrey Burnstock and colleagues' establishment of the molecular structure of the P2Y class of receptor led to the cloning of several receptors within this class, which are increasingly seen as therapeutic targets for a variety of disorders. Indeed, drugs acting at these receptors are already improving patient health worldwide by reducing the risk of thrombotic events in people suffering from myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke (via P2Y12 receptor antagonists) and by relieving the symptoms of dry eye disorder (via P2Y2 receptor agonists). Burnstock and colleagues also cloned the P2X3 receptor which mediates pain information, and P2X3 antagonists are being developed as novel analgesics. As well as clear clinical benefits, these drug developments are associated with substantial economic and commercial benefits.
The Guide to Receptors and Channels has contributed to the development and maintenance of the intellectual infrastructure of pharmacology. The key tools it provides have influenced appropriate identification of lead drug targets and how best to study them and, as a result, it has received endorsement and financial support from the Pharmaceutical Industry. It is used widely as a teaching aid for undergraduates and research postgraduates and provides the general public with accurate information on prescription drug action. It led to the formation of the Guide to Pharmacology website in collaboration with the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology.
Clinical trials form a crucial step in translating fundamental medical research into improved healthcare. Many hundreds of trials are conducted every year, each involving hundreds, sometimes thousands, of patients. These trials are expensive, with costs as high as 20 or 30 thousand pounds per patient. Research in Bath on group sequential monitoring and the adaptive design of clinical trials has improved the conduct of clinical trials, leading to:
The impact of this research is economic (the business performance of pharmaceutical companies and businesses that support them), societal (by enhancing public health and by changing the policies adopted by regulators) and ethical (ensuring clinical trials remain safe, while bringing life-saving treatments into clinical use as rapidly as possible).
Original basic research on melatonin receptors undertaken at the Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, and funded by the Scottish Government, provided the opportunity for Servier pharmaceuticals to develop a new line of therapeutics for depression.
The company exploited Rowett know-how and invested in new research to develop a new line of compounds and to understand their structure-function relationships. This work enabled the development of melatonin analogues for clinical trials and ultimately led to the development of melatonin compounds for treatment of circadian related disorders.
One (S20098) was identified as having positive effects for disrupted circadian rhythms and beneficial outcomes for patients with depression. S20098 (also known as Agomelatine) was launched after EU authorization in 2009 as a novel anti-depressant drug called Valdoxan®. Today Valdoxan is an award winning anti-depressant drug recognised for its novel mechanism of action and few side effects. Valdoxan is the only anti-depressant drug to be brought to the market in the last 10 years. In summary, supported by investment from industry research undertaken at the University of Aberdeen contributed to the development of a novel antidepressant drug that provides a new clinical intervention with advantages over previously available antidepressants that will make a significant impact on the health and well-being of those afflicted by depression.
Research conducted at the University of Bristol since the late 1990s has pioneered the development of over 60 chemical probes that are selective for individual ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors. The development of these probes has led to numerous commercial impacts, including: the establishment of two companies, which both sold during the assessment period for a combined value of £85 million, and sales revenue for global providers of biochemicals. This research has also stimulated considerable industry investment in drug development.