SmithKline French

Current address SmithKline French, Physical and Structural Chemistry, Box 1539, King of Prussia, PA 19406-0939... 

In fact, no significant research was conducted on MDA and MDMA until nearly a half century later. By that time, researchers had begun to focus on possible psychoactive effects of the compounds. During the 1950s, the pharmaceutical firm of SmithKline French explored the possibility of using MDA as an antidepressant and tranquilizer. 

SmithKline French Tagamet launched worldwide (Hz-receptorantagonist)... 

Another program to obtain a reversible proton-pump inhibitor came from workers at SmithKline French, who selected the substituted quinoline compound SK F 96067 as an early clinical candidate (164). SKF 96067 is a reversible inhibitor of the H /K -ATPase protein of the parietal cell (164). In clinical trials SKF 96067 was found to be a more potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion than the Hz-receptor antagonist ranitidine. This compound reached Phase III clinical trials but has now been discontinued (165). The compound was followed by SKF 97574 (159) that, although of similar potency to that of SKF 96067, displayed a significantly longer duration of action in vivo. 

By the middle of the twentieth century, the old-line pharmaceutical companies, as they were termed, occupied the center of the American medical drug industry. These firms—Eli Lilly, Abbott, SmithKline French, Squibb, and Upjohn, all descended from the integrated wholesaler/manufacturers of the late-nineteenth century—increasingly producing drugs for doctors and... 

From 1964 to 1970, SmithKline French diversified in a fairly systematic manner, moving into both low-tech toiletries and high-tech medical equipment. It purchased companies producing medical devices, medical electronic equipment, and sutures, as well as others operating clinical laboratories. It acquired Love, a maker of cosmetics, and Sea Ski, producers of suntan lotions. In addition, it purchased the major food company Avocet. ... 

The companies that focused on commercializing the new learning, assisted by the new computer-based techniques of discovery by design — Merck, Eli Lily, Squibb, and SmithKline French— became the industry s leaders. Abbott also succeeded when, more by chance than careful strategic planning, it became a first mover in the new biotechnology revolution. 

SOURCES CJR. Ganellin, Cimetidine, Chronicles of Drug Discovery, J.S. Bindra and D. Ledniger (eds.) (New York. NY Wiley, 1982). SmithKline French International, The Discovery of Histamine H2-Receptors and Their Antagonists (Philadelphia, PA SmithKline Flench, 1982). 

SmithKline French International, The Discovery of Histamine H2 -Receptors and Their Antagonists (Philadelphia, PA Smith Kline French, 1982). 

RHG acknowledges financial support from the Office of Naval Research. CBG thaitks the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry and SmithKline French Laboratories for a fellowship. We thank R. Kano for helpful comments and manuscripts of woiic not yet in print... 

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