This highly illustrated volume will describe, through clear diagrams and concise text, how the most prescribed, as well as new medicines, work in the body for a broad range of diseases. By bringing this knowledge together in one place, we will seek to answer the question, ‘What is the impact of the accelerating knowledge in biology, drug research and medical sciences on the development and approval of medicines for the treatment of a wide range of diseases’. Furthermore, information on how a successful drug works can make the case for a particular therapy and provide an informed dialog between a patient and physician, or a professor and a student, or a regulator and pharmaceutical scientist.

With the continuing explosion of medical information, the book addresses the following themes:

This book breaks important new ground by focusing on the cellular biochemistry of selected diseases and how the respective drug works, using a concise, focused and non-technical graphic review.

Contents:

• The Chemistry of Life:
  
  
  
  • Introduction
  
  
  • The Biochemistry of Enzymes and Related Diseases
  
  
  • Receptors and Actions of Medicines
  
  
  • Detoxification Pathways
  
  


• The Organs and Molecules of Life:
  
  
  
  • How the Body Digests Food and Provides the Building Blocks for Life
  
  
  • The Gastrointestinal Tract
  
  
  • The Pancreas Gland with Secretions of Enzymes and Hormones
  
  
  • The Role of the Liver in Protein, Nucleic Acid, Polysaccharide and Lipid Metabolism
  
  


• The Body’s Protective Systems and Related Diseases:
  
  
  
  • The Parts of the Body’s Protective Systems
  
  
  • The Innate and Adaptive Immune System
  
  
  • Diseases of the Eye and Medicines
  
  
  • A Medicine for Lung Cancer
  
  
  • The Lungs at the Frontlines of Immunity
  
  
  • Skin Diseases and Medicines
  
  
  • Blood Cell Disorders and Medicines
  
  


• Homeostasis of the Body’s Physiology:
  
  
  
  • Body Temperature Regulation
  
  
  • Oxygen Levels in Blood
  
  
  • Blood Pressure Regulation
  
  
  • Regulation of Blood Glucose Levels
  
  
  • Inflammation, Aging and Cancer
  
  


• Brain Disorders and Selected Medicines:
  
  
  
  • Diseases/Disorders of the Brain
  
  
  • Blood Brain Barrier and Infectious Diseases
  
  
  • Neurotransmitter Functions
  
  
  • Amine Neurotransmitters
  
  
  • Amino Acid Neurotransmitters
  
  
  • Peptide and Other Neurotransmitters
  
  


• Innovative Medicines:
  
  
  
  • Rare Diseases
  
  
  • Small-Molecule Drugs
  
  
  • Antibody Drugs
  
  
  • Peptide Drugs
  
  
  • RNA Drugs
  
  
  • Cell and Gene Therapy
  
  


• Viruses, Diseases, Drugs and Vaccines:
  
  
  
  • The Diversity of Viruses
  
  
  • RNA Viruses
  
  
  • The Influenza (Flu) Virus
  
  
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  
  
  • Ebola Virus
  
  
  • SARS-Co V-2
  
  
  • DNA Viruses
  
  
  • Smallpox (Variola) Virus
  
  
  • Hepatitis B
  
  
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Virus
  
  

Readership: The book is written for the non-expert, well-educated drug consumer. However, it will also provide an important resource for the education of medical students, as well as practitioners such as educators, physicians, pharmaceutical scientists and drug regulators with insights into today’s medicines by describing the biochemistry of the body’s organs and associated pathways.

‘William Hancock . . . has deftly integrated and characterized classical and newly approved pharmaceutical and biologic agents by presenting their chemistry, biological mode of action and relevance to medical disorders in clear prose and brilliantly explanatory figures and diagrams to enable the reader to understand the drug, its chemistry and its mode of action. I anticipate wide use of this book in medical schools and physicians’ offices.’ – Stephen Wasserman MDProfessor and Chairman Emeritus Department of Medicine University of California, San Diego

‘William Hancock has over 50 years of experience in chemistry and has been involved in the analytical characterization of biopharmaceuticals since the mid-1980s. He is a recognized leader in both industry and academic institutions … This book provides examples of important medicines that have been approved by regulatory authorities to prevent or treat a variety of diseases.’ – Kathryn C Zoon, Ph DScientist Emerita, NIHFormer Scientific Director, NIAID, NIHFormer Director, CBER, FDA

‘William Hancock … has done a masterful job of using visuals to explain the cellular biochemistry of diseases and how medicines are used to treat those diseases. With its clear and concise descriptions, it is the perfect reference to have close at hand when discussing diseases and medicines with those in the general public.’ – Kenneth R Miller, Ph DDirector Biologics Operation, Astra Zeneca

‘Using a skillful combination of technical jargon and easy-to-read text, combined with associated highly colorful and descriptive diagrams, this book provides a quick reference suitable across a wide range of readers.’ – Jeffrey C Travis, Ph D, FAACC