Modern Drug Research

This chapter describes the difficult and often random path to the discovery of new drugs. Starting with the topic of zoopharmacognosy through biopiracy, the special role of natural substances is analyzed. An evidence-based evaluation was also carried out for natural substances. The historical development of state control and surveillance of drugs and their approval in Germany from the beginnings of the Federal Republic to the introduction of the first Drug Act in 1961 is highlighted. In the field of basic research, the use of animals in drug research is discussed, including the historical development and the ethical considerations associated with conducting animal experiments. A central theme is the importance of chance and intuition in the discovery of drugs. It is estimated that about six percent of the drugs currently on the market were discovered by chance. Examples of such random discoveries are the synthesis of mauveine, the development of chloral hydrate as a sleep aid, and the discovery of warfarin.