title: Biochemical approach to new medications.
abstract: In this plenary symposium address, the author describes historically his progress from the antimetabolite 2,6-diaminopurine to 6-mercaptopurine as a useful drug against tumours and leukaemia. Subsequently a 6-mercaptopurine derivative, and eventually azathioprine, were discovered to be useful drugs to ensure kidney transplant acceptance. Several of his group's diaminopurines proved to be selective antifolates in combatting pathogenic bacteria when combined with sulfanilamide, a useful drug combination already estimated to have saved a million lives.
authors.affiliation: Burroughs Wellcome Co., Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hitchings
mesh_terms: D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001671:Biochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016377:Organ Transplantation
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001379:Azathioprine