Patrick Humphrey

Last updated
Professor Patrick Humphrey

OBE
Education University of London
Known forDiscovery of the triptans
Awards Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh (1996)
Scientific career
Doctoral advisor Richard Creese

Professor Patrick Humphrey OBE DSc PhD HonFBPhS is a South African-born British pharmacologist. [1] He was instrumental in the discovery of the triptans, a group of 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D agonists [2] used to stop single instances of cluster headache or migraine.

Contents

Career

Patrick Humphrey studied at the University of London for his undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees. His doctoral thesis concerned the activities of decamethonium at the neuromuscular junction, and was supervised by Richard Creese. [1] After his PhD, Patrick joined Allen & Hanburys, a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline. His research into the cerebrovascular system uncovered some mechanisms by which serotonergic drugs affected blood flow within the skull. This led to the discovery of the triptans, a group of 5-HT1B/1D agonists, most notably sumatriptan. He then became the director of the Glaxo Division of Pharmacology, which would go on to develop the anti-emetic drug odansetron. At this time he was also made an honorary Professor of Applied Pharmacology by the University of Cambridge. [1] From 2001–2008, he acted as Head of Research at Theravance. [3]

Awards

In 1996, Patrick was awarded the Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh. The next year, 1997, he was awarded the Royal Society's Mullard Award. [4] He was awarded the OBE for "services to migraine research". [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatriptan</span> 5-HT receptor agonist medication used for migraines & cluster headaches

Sumatriptan, sold commonly under brand names Imitrex and Treximet among others, is a medication used to treat migraine headaches and cluster headaches. It is taken orally, intranasally, or by subcutaneous injection. Therapeutic effects generally occur within three hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frovatriptan</span> Chemical compound

Frovatriptan, sold under the brand name Frova, is a triptan drug developed by Vernalis for the treatment of migraine headaches and for short term prevention of menstrual migraine. The product is licensed to Endo Pharmaceuticals in North America and Menarini in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triptan</span> Class of pharmaceutical drugs

Triptans are a family of tryptamine-based drugs used as abortive medication in the treatment of migraines and cluster headaches. This drug class was first commercially introduced in the 1990s. While effective at treating individual headaches, they do not provide preventive treatment and are not considered a cure. They are not effective for the treatment of tension–type headache, except in persons who also experience migraines. Triptans do not relieve other kinds of pain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rizatriptan</span> Medication used for the treatment of migraine headaches

Rizatriptan, sold under the brand name Maxalt among others, is a medication used for the treatment of migraine headaches. It is taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zolmitriptan</span> Medication used in treatment of migraines

Zolmitriptan, sold under the brand name Zomig among others, is a triptan used in the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura and cluster headaches. It is a selective serotonin receptor agonist of the 1B and 1D subtypes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dihydroergotamine</span> An ergot alkaloid used to treat migraines

Dihydroergotamine (DHE), sold under the brand names D.H.E. 45 and Migranal among others, is an ergot alkaloid used to treat migraines. It is a derivative of ergotamine. It is administered as a nasal spray or injection and has an efficacy similar to that of sumatriptan. Nausea is a common side effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methysergide</span> Chemical compound

Methysergide, sold under the brand names Deseril and Sansert, is a monoaminergic medication of the ergoline and lysergamide groups which is used in the prophylaxis and treatment of migraine and cluster headaches. It has been withdrawn from the market in the United States and Canada due to adverse effects. It is taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almotriptan</span> Chemical compound

Almotriptan is a triptan medication discovered and developed by Almirall for the treatment of heavy migraine headache.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eletriptan</span> Chemical compound

Eletriptan, sold under the brand name Relpax and used in the form of eletriptan hydrobromide, is a second generation triptan medication intended for treatment of migraine headaches. It is used as an abortive medication, blocking a migraine attack which is already in progress. Eletriptan is marketed and manufactured by Pfizer Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisuride</span> Chemical compound

Lisuride, sold under the brand name Dopergin among others, is a monoaminergic medication of the ergoline class which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, migraine, and high prolactin levels. It is taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serotonin receptor agonist</span> Serotonin receptor agonist

A serotonin receptor agonist is an agonist of one or more serotonin receptors. They activate serotonin receptors in a manner similar to that of serotonin, a neurotransmitter and hormone and the endogenous ligand of the serotonin receptors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antimigraine drug</span> Medication intended to reduce the effects or intensity of migraine headache

Antimigraine drugs are medications intended to reduce the effects or intensity of migraine headache. They include drugs for the treatment of acute migraine symptoms as well as drugs for the prevention of migraine attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naratriptan</span> Chemical compound

Naratriptan (trade names include Amerge) is a triptan drug marketed by GlaxoSmithKline and is used for the treatment of migraine headaches. It is a selective 5-HT1 receptor subtype agonist.

5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptor Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B also known as the 5-HT1B receptor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HTR1B gene. The 5-HT1B receptor is a 5-HT receptor subtype.

Triptans is a word commonly used for a class of anti-migraine drugs that are selective 5-hydroxytryptamine/serotonin1B/1D (5-HT1B/1D) agonists. Migraine is a complex disease which affects about 15% of the population and can be highly disabling. Triptans have advantages over ergotamine and dihydroergotamine, such as selective pharmacology, well established safety record and evidence-based prescribing instructions. Triptans are therefore often preferred treatment in migraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond P. Ahlquist</span> American pharmacist and pharmacologist

Raymond Perry Ahlquist was an American pharmacist and pharmacologist. He published seminal work in 1948 that divided adrenoceptors into α- and β-adrenoceptor subtypes. This discovery explained the activity of several existing drugs and also laid the ground work for new drugs including the widely prescribed beta blockers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PNU-142633</span> Chemical compound

PNU-142633 is an experimental drug candidate for the treatment of migraine. It exerts its effect as a selective, high affinity 5-HT1D receptor antagonist. PNU-142633 is well tolerated after oral administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donitriptan</span> Chemical compound

Donitriptan (INN) is a triptan drug which was investigated as an antimigraine agent but ultimately was never marketed. It acts as a high-affinity, high-efficacy/near-full agonist of the 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors, and is among the most potent of the triptan series of drugs. Donitriptan was being developed in France by bioMérieux-Pierre Fabre and made it to phase II clinical trials in Europe before development was discontinued.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CP-122,288</span> Chemical compound

CP-122,288 is a drug which acts as a potent and selective agonist for the 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D and 5-HT1F serotonin receptor subtypes. It is a derivative of the migraine medication sumatriptan, but while CP-122,288 is 40,000 times more potent than sumatriptan as an inhibitor of neurogenic inflammation and plasma protein extravasation, it is only twice as potent as a constrictor of blood vessels. In human trials, CP-122,288 was not found to be effective as a treatment for migraine, but its selectivity for neurogenic anti-inflammatory action over vasoconstriction has made it useful for research into the underlying causes of migraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ditan</span>

Ditans are a class of abortive medication for the treatment of migraines. The first ditan, Eli Lilly's lasmiditan, was approved by the FDA in 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tansey EM, Yabsley A, Humphrey P (2016). Becoming a pharmacologist: The School of Pharmacy and St. Mary’s. History of Modern Biomedicine Interviews (Digital Collection), item e2016022. London: Queen Mary University of London. doi: 10.17636/01012988
  2. Tepper, Stewart J.; Rapoport, Alan M.; Sheftell, Fred D. (2002-07-01). "Mechanisms of Action of the 5-HT1B/1D Receptor Agonists". Archives of Neurology. 59 (7): 1084–8. doi: 10.1001/archneur.59.7.1084 . ISSN   0003-9942. PMID   12117355.
  3. 1 2 "Dr Patrick Humphrey OBE". British Pharmacological Society.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "Discussion". Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 18 (9): 306–307. 1997. doi:10.1016/S0165-6147(97)01098-5.