James Black (pharmacologist)

James Black (pharmacologist)

James Black (14 June 1924 – 22 March 2010) was a British pharmacologist, best known for his development of propranolol, the first beta blocker, and cimetidine, a H2 receptor antagonist. Both drugs were revolutionary in their respective fields and led to the development of similar drugs that are widely used today. Black was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988 for his work.

Early life and education

Black was born in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He attended Beath High School in Cowdenbeath, where he developed an interest in science. He went on to study medicine at the University of St Andrews, graduating in 1946.

Career

After graduating, Black worked as a lecturer at the University of Malaya in Singapore. He returned to the UK in 1950 and began working at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey. It was here that he began his work on beta blockers.

In 1958, Black joined Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), where he developed propranolol. This was the first drug of its kind and revolutionised the treatment of heart disease. Black's work on propranolol led to the development of other beta blockers, which are now widely used in the treatment of a range of conditions, including hypertension, angina and anxiety.

Black left ICI in 1964 and joined Smith, Kline & French (SK&F), where he developed cimetidine. This drug was the first H2 receptor antagonist and transformed the treatment of peptic ulcers. Cimetidine and other H2 receptor antagonists are now commonly used in the treatment of conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Black was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988 for his work on propranolol and cimetidine. He continued to work in pharmacology until his retirement in 1993.

Legacy

Black's work has had a profound impact on the field of pharmacology. His development of propranolol and cimetidine has led to the development of a range of similar drugs that are widely used today. His work has also contributed to our understanding of how drugs work and how they can be used to treat a range of conditions.

See also

• List of Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine
• History of pharmacology
• Beta blocker
• H2 receptor antagonist