Josef Rudinger Memorial Lecture 2002. Peptide related drug research.

Abstract

Drug discovery directed peptide research has been pursued at the IVAX Drug Research Institute (formerly Institute for Drug Research) (IDR) since the mid 1950s. Outlined are the main projects and the most significant results, which include the first synthesis of human ACTH, the discovery of GYKI-14 166, the prototype of peptide inhibitors of thrombin, a stable anticoagulant, efegatran GYKI-14 766, and their dual acting analogues. The identification of an agonist analogue of LHRH leading to Cetrorelix, an LHRH antagonist now in clinical use, is also presented.