glucosulfone and Leprosy

From 1936 until 1996, the drug dapsone treated a diverse array of diseases, including tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, and AIDS-related pneumonia. This article explores how dapsone transformed from a cure for one disease into a treatment for a totally different malady. This process of reinvention in the clinic represents an alternative model of drug development that the historical literature, focused on success in the laboratory, has largely ignored. The core of the paper discusses the reinvention of dapsone as an antimalarial in the Vietnam War through trials led by Robert J. T. Joy, a physician and military officer. As a case study, it offers a fresh perspective on the clinic-as-laboratory approach that other scholars have addressed in a civilian context. Viewing the randomized clinical trial (RCT) through a military prism will demonstrate how a combat environment combined with the regimentation of the armed forces affected the standard methodology of the RCT.

Topics: Antimalarials; Dapsone; Drug Industry; History, 20th Century; Humans; Leprostatic Agents; Leprosy; Malaria; Military Medicine; Military Personnel; p-Aminoazobenzene; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vietnam Conflict

Prof. Morizo Ishidate synthesized "Promin" for the treatment of leprosy/Hansen's disease which had been considered "incurable" until the discovery of antileprosy effect of that drug by Dr. Faget of U.S.A. in 1941. Prof. Ishidate was the first to synthesize the drug in Japan in 1946 based on a brief news item on a Swiss journal smuggled in during the War. For this achievement, he is known as "father of chemotherapy for leprosy in Japan." Prof. Ishidate also contributed to the global fight against leprosy as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation, which he helped to establish in May 1974, with a full financial backing of Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, President of Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation. Prof. Ishidate, with his scientific knowledge as well as christianity based humanitarian concern, advised Mr. Sasakawa how to spend JSIF money wisely for eliminating leprosy and nearly US$200 million was channeled through WHO and SMHF. The successful outcome of global multidrug therapy (MDT) programme in the '80s resulted in the adoptation of resolution by the World Health Assembly, "Elimination of Leprosy, as a public health problem" by the Year 2000. The synthesis of "Promin" in Japan and promoting the global implementation of MDT, both achievement can be attributed to Prof. Ishidate.

Topics: Dapsone; Financial Support; Humans; International Cooperation; Japan; Leprostatic Agents; Leprosy; Research Support as Topic; World Health Organization

From 1936 until 1996, the drug dapsone treated a diverse array of diseases, including tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, and AIDS-related pneumonia. This article explores how dapsone transformed from a cure for one disease into a treatment for a totally different malady. This process of reinvention in the clinic represents an alternative model of drug development that the historical literature, focused on success in the laboratory, has largely ignored. The core of the paper discusses the reinvention of dapsone as an antimalarial in the Vietnam War through trials led by Robert J. T. Joy, a physician and military officer. As a case study, it offers a fresh perspective on the clinic-as-laboratory approach that other scholars have addressed in a civilian context. Viewing the randomized clinical trial (RCT) through a military prism will demonstrate how a combat environment combined with the regimentation of the armed forces affected the standard methodology of the RCT.

Topics: Antimalarials; Antitubercular Agents; Dapsone; History, 20th Century; Humans; Leprostatic Agents; Leprosy; Malaria; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tuberculosis; Vietnam Conflict

Topics: Dapsone; Humans; Japan; Leprosy; Minocycline; Plant Oils; Quinolones; Rifampin

Topics: Dapsone; Humans; Leprosy; Sulfones; Ulcer

Topics: Dapsone; Humans; Leprosy; Sulfones

Topics: Dapsone; Humans; Leprosy

Topics: Dapsone; Humans; Leprosy

Topics: Dapsone; Humans; Leprosy

Topics: Dapsone; Humans; Leprosy

Topics: Dapsone; Leprosy