Loading…

The history of clozapine and its emergence in the US market: a review and analysis

Clozapine is known as the first `atypical' medication and is effective in people who have treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Its 1990 emergence in the USA was marked by considerable controversy over its high cost, due in large part to having been both the first new antipsychotic medication to c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:History of psychiatry 2007-03, Vol.18 (1), p.39-60
Main Author: Crilly, John
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Clozapine is known as the first `atypical' medication and is effective in people who have treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Its 1990 emergence in the USA was marked by considerable controversy over its high cost, due in large part to having been both the first new antipsychotic medication to come to market in over a decade and the need for comprehensive safety monitor ing within a decentralized health system. This paper traces the histor y of clozapine's discover y and development in Europe, its part in the 1975 Finnish agranulocytosis scare, and its subsequent volatile emergence in the USA. Analyses examine peripheral forces at the time, particularly the influence of political, corporate, medical and societal forces which shaped its market course.
ISSN:0957-154X
1740-2360
DOI:10.1177/0957154X07070335