History and major achievements of the Institute for Drug Research
Simay, A.
Acta Pharmaceutica Hungarica 71(1): 7-12
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6659 PMID: 11769099 Document Number: 528980
The Institute for Drug Research (IDR) was established in 1950, as state-funded central research and development institution, with the aim of integrating the limited research capacity of post-war Hungary, and of providing products and technologies for the whole Hungarian pharmaceutical industry. Following various transformations, since October 1999 IDR has become a fully-owned subsidiary and major R&D institution of IVAX Corporation, headquartered in Miami, Florida. Early activities of IDR have focused on elaborating non-infringing technologies for the industrial production of pharmaceutical active ingredients of both synthetic and fermentation origin. By developing over 70 industrial technologies IDR has made significant contributions to the revitalization of the post-war Hungarian pharmaceutical industry. It has also played decisive role in the establishment and development of certain novel branches of this industry, e.g. fermentation production of antibiotics and steroids, peptide chemistry, steroid chemistry, etc. Original research targeting discovery and development of new chemical entities has become an integral part of IDR's activity since the mid-fifties. Of the several discoveries in various fields of biological activity 12 new drugs have become registered and marketed by Hungarian pharmaceutical companies. The industry-oriented R&D activity of IDR is hall-marked by the more than 800 patents field and registered during its history. Furthermore, over 2000 scientific communications and around 350 books, book-chapters and other scientific publications illustrate also its contribution to the domestic and international scientific community.