18 October 1988
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OBEL PRIZE FOR KI G'S SCIE TIST
The College was very proud to learn yesterday that Sir James Black, FRS, FRCP, Professor of Analytical Phannacology at the Medical School had been awarded the obel Prize for Medicine. The award was made in recognition of his revolutionary discoveries in the area of pharmaceutical research and the development of two drugs which have helped literally millions of people. In 1962 his team developed the beta-blocker pronethalol, used in the treatment of heart disease and high blood pressure; further work by Sir James led to the discovery of cimetidine, which has proved to be a major treatment for stomach ulcers. Professor Desmond Laurence of University College London said of Sir James:'Black in the Laboratory has relieved more human suffering than thousands of doctors in a lifetime at the bedside'. Professor Black shares the prize with two American scientists, Dr Gertrude Elion and Dr George Hitchings. An article marking this tremendous achievement will appear in the next edition of Comment.