title: Satoshi Omura: in pursuit of nature's bounty.
abstract: Professor Satoshi Omura has spent over 40 years searching for bioactive compounds in naturally occurring microorganisms, discovering more than 330 biomedically and commercially significant compounds in the process. The discovery, development and delivery of the drug ivermectin has pioneered the way for subsequent partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as international collaborations and drug donation programmes. It has involved a variety of ground-breaking steps, providing a curative drug that will help rid Africa and the world of at least one of the most devastating of all human diseases, onchocerciasis. It has also improved the health of pets and livestock around the globe, and encouraged development of a community-based delivery mechanism that could herald a revolution in public health care in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Tropical Diseases, The Kitasato Institute, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8642, Japan.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crump
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otoguro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005369:Filaricides / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007564:Japan; D018942:Macrolides / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000502:physiology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005369:Filaricides; D018942:Macrolides; D007559:Ivermectin