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Abstract
On the centenary of Paul Ehrlich's Nobel Prize, this German researcher deserves to
be remembered as a pioneer in a large number of scientific disciplines. As a result
of his enthusiasm and scientific abilities, dedication, and contacts with other scientists
of his time, he was able to make countless contributions in fields as diverse as histology,
haematology, immunology, oncology, microbiology and pharmacology, among others. Although
the Swedish award was meant to recognize the standardization of the manufacture of
antidiphtheria serum, it was the discovery of arsphenamine (Salvarsan) for the treatment
of syphilis which won him wider international acclaim. From a pharmacological perspective,
Ehrlich's outstanding contributions include dissemination of the 'magic bullet' concept
for the synthesis of antibacterials, introduction of concepts such as chemoreceptor
and chemotherapy, and linking the chemical structure of compounds to their pharmacological
activity. These achievements took place within the framework he established for the
transition from experimental pharmacology to therapeutic pharmacology. He introduced
a modern research system based on the synthesis of multiple chemical structures for
pharmacological screening in animal models of disease states. These contributions
were undoubtedly decisive in propitiating the wider development of antibiotics decades
later. For these reasons, it is fitting to mark the 100th anniversary of the Nobel
Prize awarded to this great scientist by commemorating the importance of his contributions
to the advance of pharmacology.
Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.