- Outlook
- Published:
Looking backwards: a possible new path for drug discovery in psychopharmacology
Nature Reviews Drug Discoveryvolume 1, pages1003–1006 (2002)Cite this article
453Accesses
10Citations
4Altmetric
Abstract
The history of psychopharmacology is littered with type II errors — the rejection of effective compounds in the specious belief that they were inefficacious because they had failed to beat placebo in a controlled trial. Revisiting some of these drugs to establish their receptor profile, and then determining what patentable compounds now on the shelf match that profile, might represent a possible future pathway to drug discovery. This article looks at the special circumstances in which numerous potentially effective drugs were withdrawn in the United States.
This is a preview of subscription content,access via your institution
Access options
Subscription info for Japanese customers
We have a dedicated website for our Japanese customers. Please go tonatureasia.com to subscribe to this journal.
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Shorter, E. Fading beauties: searching for value in psychopharmacology.Scrip Magazine 52–53 (September 2001).
Drug Efficacy Study.Final Report to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Food and Drug Administration, from the Division of Medical Sciences, National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences, Washington DC, 1969).
Impact of NAS/NRC report on future of drug regulation.The Pink Sheet 5 (July 14, 1969).
Bryan, P. A. & Stern, L. H. The drug efficacy study, 1962–1970.FDA Papers4, 14–17 (1970).
Temple, R.Re-Evaluation of Marketed Drugs: the DESI Program (3rd International Conference of Drug Regulatory Agencies, Stockholm, Sweden, 1984).
Temin, P.Taking your Medicine: Drug Regulation in the United States (Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1980).
Nelson hearings on psychotropics open with NIMH.The Pink Sheet T&G-6 (July 14, 1969).
Edwards' new thinking on Rx combos emerges from House subcommittee.The Pink Sheet 28 (May 10, 1971).
Smith Kline & French Laboratories.A Chronology and Review of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council Drug Efficacy Study (Smith Kline & French, Philadelphia, 1971).
NAS should reconvene drug evaluation panel chairmen.The Pink Sheet T&G-6 (October 19, 1970).
National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council.NAS/NRC Report on Captodiame FDA Accession Number 1740 (1968).
Ashby, W. R. et al. A clinical trial of covatin on elderly patients with anxiety and restlessness.J. Ment. Sci.105, 504–507 (1959).
Ellermann, M. Virkningen af covatin (et nyt dagsedativum) pa et ambulant patientmateriale.Nordisk Medicin10, 1531 (1955).
Pentney, B. H. et al. Captodiame in anxiety states in general practice.The Practitioner185, 218–221 (1960).
National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council.NAS/NRC Report on Butabarbital FDA Accession Number 1720 (1968).
National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council.NAS/NRC Report on Deprol FDA Accession Number 1729 (1968).
National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council.NAS/NRC Report on Potassium–Magnesium Aspartate FDA Accession Number 1314 (1968).
Wright, J.An Interview with Dr Jonathan Wright Tahoma Clinic [online] (cited Oct 10 2002) <http://www.tahoma-clinic.com/male.shtm> (2002).
Hass, A. E. & Coppinger, P. L.Introductions and Discontinuations of New Drugs in the United States and the United Kingdom (Food and Drug Administration, Office of Planning and Evaluation, Study 78 Appendix A, September 1989).
Formica, P. E. The housewife syndrome. Treatment with the potassium and magnesium salts of aspartic acid.Curr. Therap. Res.4, 98–106 (1962).
National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council.NAS/NRC Report on Emylcamate FDA Accession Number 1739 (1968).
Melander, B. O. et al. 3-Methyl-3-pentanol carbamate compositions. US Patent 2,972,564 (1961).
Striatran advertisement.JAMA174, 234–235 (1960).
Shubin, H. & Steinberg, N. A study of a new tranquilizer in general practice: emylcamate in 400 patients.Curr. Therap. Res.3, 527–533 (1963).
Listica advertisement.Dis. Nervous Syst.22, 543–545 (1961).
National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council.NAS/NRC Report on Hydroxyphenamate FDA Accession Number 1737 (1968).
Mclaughlin, B. E. et al. A double blind study involving Listica, Librium and placebo as an adjunct to supportive psychotherapy in a psychiatric clinic.Dis. Nervous Syst.22, S41–S42 (1961).
Greenspan, E. B. Use of hydroxyphenamate in some forms of cardiovascular disease.Dis. Nervous Syst.22, S33–S34 (1961).
Alexander, L. Discussion comment.Dis. Nervous Syst.22, S53 (1961).
PMA President Stetler's statement on efficacy study disclosures.The Pink Sheet 9 (June 14, 1971).
Justice's narcotics bill called 'stupid'; Brill urged government-supported drug data.The Pink Sheet 10 (August 4, 1969).
Cooper, J. D. (ed.)The Efficacy of Self-Medication (The Smithsonian Institution, Interdisciplinary Communications Program, Washington DC, 1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 88 College Street, Toronto, M5G 1LY, Canada
Edward Shorter
- Edward Shorter
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shorter, E. Looking backwards: a possible new path for drug discovery in psychopharmacology.Nat Rev Drug Discov1, 1003–1006 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd964
Issue date:
Share this article
Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:
Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.
Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative
This article is cited by
Magic shotguns versus magic bullets: selectively non-selective drugs for mood disorders and schizophrenia
- Bryan L. Roth
- Douglas J. Sheffler
- Wesley K. Kroeze
Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (2004)
