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