corp_html/multi/Azithromycin1.htm

<p><b>Azithromycin</b></p><b><b> 
<p><b>The Research</b></p>
</b></b>
<p>Since the 1970s, PLIVA's research team, led by Dr Slobodan Dokic, had been 
  working in the area of macrolide antibiotics. In 1981, his team of researchers, 
  Gabrijela Kobrehel, Zrinka Tamburasev and Gorjana Radobolja-Lazarevski, synthesised 
  a novel antibiotic named azithromycin, the first member of a new class of macrolide 
  antibiotics, termed azalides. The newly formed molecule, azithromycin dihydrate, 
  was obtained from the erythromycin molecule and demonstrated properties superior 
  to those of the original molecule. Because of its exceptional therapeutic properties, 
  azithromycin revolutionised antibiotic treatment and became one of the most 
  successful drugs worldwide. From its early trials, it proved to be an extremely 
  efficient antibiotic with expanded and enhanced antibacterial activity (particularly 
  against gram-negative pathogens), prolonged and higher tissue concentration 
  and a low incidence of gastrointestinal side effects compared to other similar 
  antibiotics.</p>
<p>Azithromycin has a number of principal applications: the treatment of respiratory 
  tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, gastric and duodenal infections 
  caused by <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> and sexually transmitted diseases. Its 
  competitive advantages over other known antibiotics are its short dosing period 
  (3 days as opposed to 10) and low potential for adverse drug reactions.</p>
<b><b> 
<p align="center"><img src="p/1001_a_1.jpg" width="300" height="293"></p>
</b></b>
<p><b>The Prize</b></p>
<p>On 20 August 2000 in Washington D.C., USA, the American Chemical Society (ACS), 
  a non-profit association of American chemists and chemical engineers and the 
  largest association of scientists in the world organised the "Heroes of Chemistry 
  2000" ceremony. For their discovery of azithromycin, PLIVA scientists Slobodan 
  Dokic and Gabrijela Kobrehel were named "Heroes of Chemistry", together with 
  representatives from US-based Pfizer which had also contributed to the success 
  of azithromycin, today marketed worldwide as Sumamed and Zithromax. The "Heroes 
  of Chemistry 2000" award is one of numerous awards presented over the years 
  to PLIVA scientists for their long-term contribution to global science, medicine 
  and the improvement of quality of life. This latest recognition is additional 
  confirmation of the value and achievements of PLIVA's entire team of researchers 
  who worked on the discovery of azithromycin. The discovery of azithromycin was 
  the greatest event in history of PLIVA's research and a milestone for the Croatian 
  pharmaceuticals industry. That success has put PLIVA among those few pharmaceutical 
  companies in the world that have developed their own drug.</p>
1	dpavlin	1.1	<p><b>Azithromycin</b></p><b><b>
2			<p><b>The Research</b></p>
3			</b></b>
4			<p>Since the 1970s, PLIVA's research team, led by Dr Slobodan Dokic, had been
5			working in the area of macrolide antibiotics. In 1981, his team of researchers,
6			Gabrijela Kobrehel, Zrinka Tamburasev and Gorjana Radobolja-Lazarevski, synthesised
7			a novel antibiotic named azithromycin, the first member of a new class of macrolide
8			antibiotics, termed azalides. The newly formed molecule, azithromycin dihydrate,
9			was obtained from the erythromycin molecule and demonstrated properties superior
10			to those of the original molecule. Because of its exceptional therapeutic properties,
11			azithromycin revolutionised antibiotic treatment and became one of the most
12			successful drugs worldwide. From its early trials, it proved to be an extremely
13			efficient antibiotic with expanded and enhanced antibacterial activity (particularly
14			against gram-negative pathogens), prolonged and higher tissue concentration
15			and a low incidence of gastrointestinal side effects compared to other similar
16			antibiotics.</p>
17			<p>Azithromycin has a number of principal applications: the treatment of respiratory
18			tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, gastric and duodenal infections
19			caused by <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> and sexually transmitted diseases. Its
20			competitive advantages over other known antibiotics are its short dosing period
21			(3 days as opposed to 10) and low potential for adverse drug reactions.</p>
22			<b><b>
23			<p align="center"><img src="p/1001_a_1.jpg" width="300" height="293"></p>
24			</b></b>
25			<p><b>The Prize</b></p>
26			<p>On 20 August 2000 in Washington D.C., USA, the American Chemical Society (ACS),
27			a non-profit association of American chemists and chemical engineers and the
28			largest association of scientists in the world organised the "Heroes of Chemistry
29			2000" ceremony. For their discovery of azithromycin, PLIVA scientists Slobodan
30			Dokic and Gabrijela Kobrehel were named "Heroes of Chemistry", together with
31			representatives from US-based Pfizer which had also contributed to the success
32			of azithromycin, today marketed worldwide as Sumamed and Zithromax. The "Heroes
33			of Chemistry 2000" award is one of numerous awards presented over the years
34			to PLIVA scientists for their long-term contribution to global science, medicine
35			and the improvement of quality of life. This latest recognition is additional
36			confirmation of the value and achievements of PLIVA's entire team of researchers
37			who worked on the discovery of azithromycin. The discovery of azithromycin was
38			the greatest event in history of PLIVA's research and a milestone for the Croatian
39			pharmaceuticals industry. That success has put PLIVA among those few pharmaceutical
40			companies in the world that have developed their own drug.</p>