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<p><b>Azithromycin - Sumamed</b></p> |
<p><b>Azithromycin</b></p><b><b> |
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<p>Azithromycin is the first member of a new class of macrolide antibiotics, termed |
<p><b>The Research</b></p> |
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azalides. It was synthesized in PLIVA Research Institute in 1981 and registered |
</b></b> |
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under the brand name Sumamed in 1988. In 1981, PLIVA applied for a patent for |
<p>Since the 1970s, PLIVA's research team, led by Dr Slobodan Dokic, had been |
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azithromycin in former Yugoslavia which was followed by further applications |
working in the area of macrolide antibiotics. In 1981, his team of researchers, |
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world-wide, including in the United States. PLIVA's first patent for azithromycin |
Gabrijela Kobrehel, Zrinka Tamburasev and Gorjana Radobolja-Lazarevski, synthesised |
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was granted in Belgium a few months before Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical multinational, |
a novel antibiotic named azithromycin, the first member of a new class of macrolide |
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applied for a patent for the same chemical entity in the United States.</p> |
antibiotics, termed azalides. The newly formed molecule, azithromycin dihydrate, |
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<p align="center"><img src="p/1001_a_1.jpg" width="300" height="293"></p> |
was obtained from the erythromycin molecule and demonstrated properties superior |
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<p>The newly formed molecule, azithromycin dihydrate, was obtained from the molecule |
to those of the original molecule. Because of its exceptional therapeutic properties, |
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of erythromycin and has shown properties superior to those of the original molecule. |
azithromycin revolutionised antibiotic treatment and became one of the most |
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Azithromycin is an acid stable antibiotic with an extended anti-microbial spectrum |
successful drugs worldwide. From its early trials, it proved to be an extremely |
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to Gramnegative pathogens, most notably H. influenzae. Intracellular tropism |
efficient antibiotic with expanded and enhanced antibacterial activity (particularly |
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and long terminal half-life permit an exceptionally short dosing regimen.</p> |
against gram-negative pathogens), prolonged and higher tissue concentration |
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<p>Its distinctive pharmaco-kinetic profile permits a simple and short dosing |
and a low incidence of gastrointestinal side effects compared to other similar |
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regimen. For the majority of infections Sumamed is taken once daily by the patient |
antibiotics.</p> |
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for three days. In the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases Sumamed is |
<p>Azithromycin has a number of principal applications: the treatment of respiratory |
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taken in a single dose and for the treatment of erythema migrans, once daily |
tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, gastric and duodenal infections |
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over 5 days. Azithromycin concentrations in infected tissues remain in the therapeutic |
caused by <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> and sexually transmitted diseases. Its |
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range for five to seven days after the last dose. The simple and short dosing |
competitive advantages over other known antibiotics are its short dosing period |
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regimen is convenient so patients are much more likely take the proper dosage |
(3 days as opposed to 10) and low potential for adverse drug reactions.</p> |
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at the proper times.</p> |
<b><b> |
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<p><b>Future perspectives</b></p> |
<p align="center"><img src="p/1001_a_1.jpg" width="300" height="293"></p> |
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<p>The pharmacokinetics properties of azithromycin in combination with in vitro |
</b></b> |
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activity give the drug wide therapeutic application. Furthermore, Sumamed clinical |
<p><b>The Prize</b></p> |
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development, especially in the area of chronic "non-infective" diseases (atherosclerosis, |
<p>On 20 August 2000 in Washington D.C., USA, the American Chemical Society (ACS), |
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asthma, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease), should be evaluated. Azithromycin |
a non-profit association of American chemists and chemical engineers and the |
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could be used as mono-therapy, with its advantage of once daily dosing, or in |
largest association of scientists in the world organised the "Heroes of Chemistry |
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combination with other anti-microbials. In case azithromycin is given in combination, |
2000" ceremony. For their discovery of azithromycin, PLIVA scientists Slobodan |
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treatment package or fix combination should be examined. Taking all these into |
Dokic and Gabrijela Kobrehel were named "Heroes of Chemistry", together with |
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consideration, further development of Sumamed is possible in three fields:<br> |
representatives from US-based Pfizer which had also contributed to the success |
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Clinical investigation in new applications is led by the in vitro activity of |
of azithromycin, today marketed worldwide as Sumamed and Zithromax. The "Heroes |
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Sumamed on one hand, and newly discovered medical needs on the other.</p> |
of Chemistry 2000" award is one of numerous awards presented over the years |
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<p>There are three main groups of diseases:</p> |
to PLIVA scientists for their long-term contribution to global science, medicine |
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<ol> |
and the improvement of quality of life. This latest recognition is additional |
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<li><b>infectious diseases</b> (acute infectious diarrhea, inclusion conjunctivitis, |
confirmation of the value and achievements of PLIVA's entire team of researchers |
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dental infections, acne, pertussis, prostatitis);</li> |
who worked on the discovery of azithromycin. The discovery of azithromycin was |
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<li><b>chronic "non-infectious" diseases</b> (atherosclerosis, asthma, reactive |
the greatest event in history of PLIVA's research and a milestone for the Croatian |
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arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease);</li> |
pharmaceuticals industry. That success has put PLIVA among those few pharmaceutical |
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<li><b>rare diseases </b>(trachoma, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, rickettsiosis, |
companies in the world that have developed their own drug.</p> |
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leptospirosis, tuberculosis, MAC infections, typhoid fever).</li> |
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</ol> |
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