Superdrugs

Drug research breakthroughs are becoming everyday news. But will we ever have a miracle pill?

Posted by Tormod Guldvog
13 September, 2001 04:09:53

In recent years, the sampling of the human genome has brought much attention to the development of drugs which can perform what may seem to be miracles. Working AIDS drugs, Alzheimer's vaccines and chemicals which make mice live longer, are all fairly new discoveries.

There is an astonishing number of drugs out there. Just take a look at the Drug Reference library, for example. Just flipping through the pages of such databases is enough to make anyone's head spin around.

The sampling of the human genome may bring on new drugs which can solve illness and syndromes we don't even understand. In the meantime, the world is seeing new diseases like the Mad Cow Disease in Europe. This kind of plague will put new demands on the search for superdrugs.

This week Hypography goes looking for drugs which may work miracles, and some of the organizations behind them.

Related Links

Newer drug holds off leukemia longer
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/cancer/12/14/bc.health.leukemia.reut/index.html
An article from CNN Interactive about treatment for leukemia with the drug fludarabine.

MSN Drug Reference
http://content.health.msn.com/drugs
This is a great online tool to identify prescription drugs and their uses and side effects.

Genes, Corn and Planets Orbited 2000 Controversy, Discovery Defined the Big Stories
http://www.bioexchange.com/news/news_page.cfm?id=3589
A summary of the big news in drugs development in the year 2000.

Alzheimer's Scientists Announce Initial Results of Alzheimer Vaccine
http://www.alz.org/media/news/current/Alzvaccine.htm
A press release about the work to develop a new vaccine which could revolutionize the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Gene Mutation Doubles Life Span
http://webcrawler-news.excite.com/news/ap/001214/15/live-long
An article about the quest to find a drug which may prolong life in human beings.

Germs for peace
http://www.newscientist.com/nsplus/insight/bioterrorism/germsforpeace.html
A New Scientist special on bioterrorism and the use of biological weapons.

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
http://www.fda.gov/cder/
The CDER is an agency under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, working with research and approval of new drugs.

Recently Approved Drugs/Indications
http://www.pslgroup.com/NEWDRUGS.HTM
Keep up to date on new superdrugs with this page by Doctor's Guide.

New Breast Cancer Pill Studied
http://www.discoveryhealth.com/DH/ihtIH/WSDSC000/333/7228/306047.html
An article from Discovery Health online about new drugs for figthing breast cancer.

Oral cancer attacked by tomatoes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1080000/1080333.stm
An article from the BBC News about the use of the chemical lycopene, which gives tomatoes the distinct red color, to fight oral cancer.