Molecular Modifications among Antihypertensive Agents
Chester J. Cavallito · Advances in chemistry series · 1964
The historical development of antihypertensive agents is reviewed, with particular attention to the part played by molecular modification in evolving useful drugs. During the past 15 years many thousands of new organic compounds have been prepared and tested in order to provide the handful of antihypertensive agents currently in use. Molecular modifications of prototype structures have yielded anywhere from little or no to moderate to significant improvements in antihypertensive drugs. In each instance the ultimate degree of success was unpredictable prior to the synthesis and testing of structural variants. Molecular modifications of drugs and the elucidation of their mechanisms of action are complementary activities, each of which can contribute to the other and to the development of better drugs. However, at our present state of knowledge we will probably need to depend for some time primarily on the continued molecular creations of the medicinal chemists for our progress in drug therapy.