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Medical uses of gold compounds: Past, present and future

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Abstract

Gold, in a variety of forms, has been used in medicine throughout the history of civilisation. In the twentieth century gold complexes were introduced for the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, culminating in the introduction of the oral drug Auranofin in 1985. The clinical use and mechanism of action of gold drugs is reviewed here, including recent discoveries on the effect of gold drugs on gene expression. The search for new medical uses of gold is described, focusing on the anticancer and antimicrobial properties of gold compounds.

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  1. Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blounts Court, Sonning Common, RG4 9NH, Reading, Berkshire, UK

    Simon P Pricker

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  1. Simon P Pricker
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Dr Simon Fricker is a Principal Scientist in the Biomedical Technology Department at the Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, where he has been responsible for pharmacology and toxicology for 12 years, on the research and development of novel inorganic pharmaceuticals.

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Pricker, S.P. Medical uses of gold compounds: Past, present and future. Gold Bull 29, 53–60 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03215464

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