Drug Hunters: The Improbable Quest to Discover New Medicines

Name: Drug Hunters: The Improbable Quest to Discover New Medicines
Price: 24.99 USD
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Rating: 4.5 (222 reviews)

4.5 of 5 Stars: History - Drug Hunters: The Improbable Quest to Discover New Medicines

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Book Synopsis: The surprising, behind-the-scenes story of how our medicines are discovered, told by a veteran drug hunter.

The search to find medicines is as old as disease, which is to say as old as the human race. Through serendipity - by chewing, brewing, and snorting - some Neolithic souls discovered opium, alcohol, snakeroot, juniper, frankincense, and other helpful substances. Ötzi the Iceman, the five-thousand-year-old hunter frozen in the Italian Alps, was found to have whipworms in his intestines and Bronze-age medicine, a worm-killing birch fungus, knotted to his leggings. Nowadays, Big Pharma conglomerates spend billions of dollars on state-of-the-art laboratories staffed by PhDs to discover blockbuster drugs. Yet, despite our best efforts to engineer cures, luck, trial-and-error, risk, and ingenuity are still fundamental to medical discovery.

The Drug Hunters is a colorful, fact-filled narrative history of the search for new medicines from our Neolithic forebears to the professionals of today, and from quinine and aspirin to Viagra, Prozac, and Lipitor. The chapters offer a lively tour of how new drugs are actually found, the discovery strategies, the mistakes, and the rare successes. Dr. Donald R. Kirsch infuses the book with his own expertise and experiences from thirty-five years of drug hunting, whether searching for life-saving molecules in mudflats by Chesapeake Bay or as a chief science officer and research group leader at major pharmaceutical companies.

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Discover the captivating and untold story of the quest to find new medicines in "Drug Hunters: The Improbable Quest to Discover New Medicines." Written by veteran drug hunter, Dr. Donald R. Kirsch, this intriguing book takes you on a journey through time, uncovering the fascinating history of medical discovery.

From the ancient civilizations who stumbled upon helpful substances through serendipity, to the modern-day pharmaceutical conglomerates investing billions in cutting-edge laboratories, "Drug Hunters" reveals the remarkable evolution of medicine. Dr. Kirsch, with over 35 years of experience in the field, provides a unique perspective and expert insights into the challenges and triumphs of drug discovery.

With each chapter, you'll be immersed in the thrilling world of medical research, learning about the discovery strategies, the thrilling successes, and even the occasional mistakes. From the humble beginnings of quinine and aspirin to the groundbreaking advancements of Viagra, Prozac, and Lipitor, "Drug Hunters" showcases the pivotal role that luck, risk-taking, and ingenuity play in the search for life-saving molecules.

Don't miss out on this captivating narrative that combines history, science, and the human spirit of exploration. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a science enthusiast, or simply curious about the fascinating world of medicine, "Drug Hunters" is a must-read that will leave you inspired and in awe of the incredible advancements we've made.

Get your copy of "Drug Hunters" now and embark on this extraordinary journey through the history of medicine.

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