World Health Organization drug development

The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the use of an Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system for the collection and analysis of data on drug use. This was originally developed by Scandinavian authorities, and uses a combination of anatomical, therapeutic and chemical criteria to assign drugs to an individual class. The top-level categories, which are anatomically based, are listed in Table 3.2. 

In the recently released book on worldwide compliance issues (Adherence to Long-term Therapies, Evidence for Action),7 published by the World Health Organization, researchers indicate that the problem of noncompliance is worse in countries in the developing world than in countries in the industrialized world. Many parts of the United States have similar morbidity and mortality rates as countries in the Third World.8 Specific disease states may have significant additional noncompliance ramifications due to the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria.9 Many times what is necessary is referral to specific clinicians for individualized treatment and monitoring to enhance compliance. The case histories provided in this text will allow you to follow what others have done in similar situations to optimally help patients succeed in improving compliance rates and subsequent positive health outcomes. 

The accuracy of any quantitative assay depends on the use of standards that have been thoroughly characterized by accepted and independent methods. Without careful preparation of standards, the reported values for samples will be systematically higher or lower than the true value. Chiron has devoted considerable effort to the development of gold standard preparations of RNA from HIV-1 and HCV and DNA from HBV for use in the bDNA assays. These standards have been made available to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization. 

WHO. Counterfeit drugs guidelines for the development of measures to combat counterfeit drugs. Geneva World Health Organization 1999. (WHO/EDM/QSM/99.1). 

WHO. How to develop and implement a national drug policy. Geneva World Health Organization ... 

Much of the ethos of community drug treatment as it has developed has been firmly grounded in harm-reduction policies. There is frequent debate as to exactly what such principles entail, and even how appropriate they are in countries at different stages of development. Those interested in the philosophy are referred to a paper by AL Ball (2007) from the department of HIV/Aids at the World Health Organization, which clearly still sees avoidance of HIV as one of the key aims of this policy agenda. A short commentary on that article succinctly sums up the areas of importance in drug service provision, as follows ... 

Wheeler, C. and S. Berkley. 2001. Initial Lessons from Public-Private Partnerships in Drug and Vaccine Development. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1 i-. 

World Health Organization (WHO). 2001. How to Develop and Implement a National Drug Policy. 

A few years ago, the Expert Committee on Drag Addiction of the World Health Organization advised the United Nations that barbiturates must be considered drugs liable to produce addiction. Some persons develop a physical dependence on barbiturates others may be able to stop using the drugs voluntarily. As in the use of other psychological supports, the need for continued barbiturates lies in the underlying personality disorder. 

Praziquantel was developed in the late 1970s (Gonnert and Andrews, 1 977) and tested in humans soon after (Katz et al., 1979 Santos et al., 1979). It has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the drug of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis caused by S. mansoni, S. japonicum or 5. haematobium since 1982 (Andrews et al., 1983). The mechanism of praziquantel s anti-schistosomal activity remains unclear, but recent insights are reviewed in Chapter 14. More information about other uses for praziquantel for other flatworm diseases can be found in Chapter 12. 

A TLC method/approach that is low cost, maintenance free, fast and reliable, an apparatus that is made of a plastic bag, and that does not require electricity (for developing countries) has been suggested [3J. The feasibility was demonstrated by the analysis of a partial list of the essential drugs established by the World Health Organization. 

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