55 / 92
350
YEARS
OF
SCIENCE
55
© Archives de l'Académie des sciences
© Bruno Villoutreix - Inserm
Taxotère
®
, synthesized by Member of the
Académie des Sciences Pierre Potier and
his colleagues, was a revolution in the world
of cancer chemotherapy.
Pierre Potier
(1934-2006)
In medicine, chemistry uses nanoparticles as vectors to transport drugs
inside the tumor itself.
© From Servier médical graphes
© Dr_Kateryna - Fotolia
Chemists also play a fundamental
role in the field of health. The
synthesis of active molecules such
as Taxol
®
, derived from the bark of
the yew tree, significantly helped
improve cancer drugs. Unfortunately,
the production of Taxol
®
required
a great number of trees to be
removed. Research conducted at
the French
Centre national de la
recherche scientifique
in Gif-sur-
Yvette has allowed an even more
active compound to be identified –
Taxotere
®
– which, since it received
marketing authorization in 1995, has
become the most used of all products
against breast and lung cancer. Incidentally, chemistry and medicine often merge. The 2015 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry has thus been awarded to the discovery of DNA repair mechanisms, while, the same year, the
Nobel Prize of Medicine rewarded work conducted on the role of artemisinin and avermectin in the fight
against parasitic disease. In both cases, chemistry was directly involved.
Chemistry is not only interested in discovering new drugs, it is also involved
in drug delivery. The introduction of nanotechnology in pharmacology
helps develop nanoparticles that can be used as vectors to transport
active principles at the very heart of a cell. In the case of cancer,
the drug is only delivered in its target – the cancerous tumour –,
thus avoiding the well-known side effects of chemotherapy. Swift
progress is being made, both in diagnosis and therapy, thus
contributing to the development of nanomedicine.
A versatile molecular science,
chemistry builds bridges between
different disciplines – physics,
biology, medicine, pharmacology,
earth science, etc. Just as it was
involved in the formation of the
universe and the appearance of
life, it will play a key role in the
development of modern society.