Introduction: Advances in the Biochemical Pharmacology of Gastrointestinal (GI) Functions as an Approach to Understanding GI Disorders

Abstract

This book contains the proceedings of the first international meeting of the IUPHAR Section on Gastroenterology. It is recognition of how gastrointestinal pharmacology has now progressed to be a discipline in its own right. The past three decades have seen this subject evolve in a unique manner, especially compared with that of many other fields of pharmacology. In the first place many of the specialist developments have arisen from research in the pharmaceutical industry and physician-scientists as well as from the contributions of academics. We recall that the first Nobel Prize to an industry biomedical scientist was to Sir James Black, who could be described as a biochemical pharmacologist. His work on histamine receptor studies set the stage for the development of the first of the truly specific anti-ulcer drugs, the H₂ receptor antagonists, modelled initially by metiamide but then followed by the highly successful drug cimetidine. The latter drug is now deemed to be so safe and effective that it is now sold over the counter in a number of countries. We should also remember how many of us benefited from the generosity of companies like Smith, Kline and French who in the days when the H₂-receptor field was evolving readily gave samples of drugs like metiamide and cimetidine for experimental studies. Whilst it could be said with hindsight that the company stood to benefit from this, it was much less clear then.