The three thousand year journey of colchicine
20 days ago
- #drug policy
- #medical history
- #pharmaceuticals
- Colchicine, derived from the autumn crocus, has a 3,000-year history from poison to FDA-approved medicine.
- Originally known as a poison, colchicine's medicinal use began in the 18th century for gout treatment.
- Colchicine works by disrupting microtubule formation, affecting cell division and inflammation response, particularly in neutrophils.
- Modern clinical trials in the 20th and 21st centuries validated colchicine's efficacy for gout, Familial Mediterranean Fever, and cardiovascular diseases.
- The FDA's Unapproved Drugs Initiative led to colchicine's approval under the brand Colcrys, causing a price surge and monopoly concerns.
- URL Pharma's acquisition by Takeda Pharmaceutical highlighted the financial and regulatory complexities of drug exclusivity.
- The controversy around colchicine pricing and exclusivity led to criticism of pharmaceutical policies and the eventual end of the Unapproved Drugs Initiative.
- Colchicine's story illustrates the intersection of ancient medicine, modern science, and pharmaceutical policy.