Fifty Years of the Research Institute for Pharmacy and Biochemistry

Overview

After the nationalization of pharmaceutical industry and establishment of the United PharmaceuticalEnterprises in 1946, the Research and Control Institute (VKÚ) was established in Prague in1947 to support the development of research, manufacture, and control of drugs. After othermeasures of nationalization and unification of research, in 1951 the research sections of the VKÚand the pharmaceutical sections of the Research Institute of ČCHZ were fused to form the ResearchInstitute for Pharmacy and Biochemistry (VÚFB). The section the VÚFB taking care of the qualityof production was transformed into the Pharmaceutical Control Institute (KÚF). Each of theinstitutes had its own farm for breeding experimental animals outside Prague. In 1958, KÚF wastransformed into the Research Institute of Medicinal Plants (VÚLERO) and later, in 1960, into theResearch Institute of Natural Substances (VÚPL), which eventually fused with VÚFB in 1967.During the years of increasing activities of VÚFB, a chemical pilot plantwas established inOlomouc,and a department of clinical pharmacology in Plzeň. Research activities of VÚFB were aimed tosearch for original drugs and to develop non-proprietary medicines in the field of the central andvegetative nervous systems, blood circulation, inflammatory processes, microbial infections, carcinostaticdrugs, etc. In natural substances, the greatest attention was paid to ergot alkaloids, but theextent of research also included the constituents of the poppy, periwinkle, and other plants. Animportant part of the programme was also the breeding and cultivation of selectedmedicinal plants.The results of research were continuously published in both inland and foreign scholarly journalsand at conferences and congresses. Every year, usually more than 100 papers were published and40–50 for patents applications were submitted. The activity of the Institute resulted in theproduction of 30 original substances which were introduced into therapeutic practice. Twenty ofthem are still commonly prescribed. Some of these original substances got into foreign markets, particularly Prothiaden and Trimepranol represented important exports. In addition, 83 non-proprietarydrugs were introduced into the inland market.

Key words:
pharmaceutical research – Research Institute for Pharmacy and Biochemistry –original medicinal products