title: Foundations for blockbuster drugs in federally sponsored research.
abstract: 'Blockbuster' drugs, which are widely prescribed and improve the health of millions, often originate in fundamental laboratory research. An important example of such drugs are the cholesterol-lowering drugs called 'statins', including Zocor, Pravachol, and Lipitor, which millions of people take in the U.S. every year. This short paper outlines the direct and indirect contributions of federally sponsored research to the development of these important drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. rthompso@umaryland.edu
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D016527:Drug Costs; D015195:Drug Design; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000266:history; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors