BJCP 25th anniversary

Abstract

Professor Andrew Renwick and I send the Journal our heartiest congratulations on its 25th anniversary. We had the privilege of acting as Assistant Secretary and Secretary to the Editorial Board in the years 1985–1987 and would have been happy to continue for a longer period but for the fact that I became Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Southampton in September 1986, as well as Chairman of the Joint Formulary Committee, which oversees production of the British National Formulary. The move of the Journal to Southampton represented a major change in modus operandi for the Journal. Hitherto, Paul Turner and Alan Richens had been able to make frequent visits to the Editorial Offices in John Street close to St Bartholomew’s Hospital. However, despite some trepidations concerning the reliance on the postal system and periodic telephone calls, the transition proved to be a smooth one, thanks in large part to the efficiency of Elizabeth Whelan at Blackwell’s London office. Our time at the helm represented a phase of consolidation. The Journal comprised original manuscripts, short reports and letters and volumes 19–22 were accompanied by an average of 2 supplements each. Published articles during that time focused primarily on the pharmacodynamics of cardiovascular agents, notably β-adrenoceptor antagonists, calcium antagonists and the emergence of ACE inhibitors, as well as a variety of benzodiazepines. Developments included studies on drugs in the elderly and a series of papers from Liverpool and from Thailand/Oxford on the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of drugs used in the treatment of malaria and other tropical diseases. Other important papers published included early studies on drug metabolism by human isolated hepatocytes, the stereo-selective metabolism of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the recognition of the importance of α1-acid glycoprotein as a carrier of basic drugs and pivotal work on the pharmacology of adenosine when used in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. From volume 22, no 3 onwards (September 1986) we attempted to implement the wishes of our readers following a survey carried out by Dr Mark Chaput de Saintonge. Readers had indicated that they would like to see more methodologic and general review articles, more editorials and fewer phase 3 clinical trial reports. After a comparatively slow start, I am pleased to note that this policy is now fully implemented and I congratulate my successors on that achievement. Important papers published during the second half of our time as Editorial Secretary/Assistant Secretary related to caffeine metabolism, early studies on new anticonvulsants, especially lamotrigine, the demonstration that quinidine inhibits metabolism by CYP2D6 and the assignment of this isozyme to chromosome 22. Finally, volume 24 saw the introduction of a new technique, that of low dose phenobarbitone, as an indicator of compliance with drug therapy, plus exciting studies on dermatopharmacology and post-marketing surveillance. We are pleased to have played a minor role in the development of what has become a prestigious international journal in clinical pharmacology. We wish it continuing success under the direction of the Liverpool and Glasgow team.