Roger Edward Collingwood Altounyan (1922–1987) was a Syrian-born Anglo-Armenian physician and pharmacologist who pioneered the use of sodium cromoglycate as a remedy for asthma.[1] His family relocated to the United Kingdom where he studied medicine and started his pioneering research.
Starting with khella, a traditional remedy for asthma, Altounyan discovered in 1965 that khella's active ingredient was khellin. He eventually produced a safer chemical based on khellin, sodium cromoglycate. This was later marketed as Intal by Fisons Pharmaceuticals, which was taken over by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, who in turn were acquired into Aventis and Sanofi-aventis. Prior to the RPR takeover, the R&D element of Fisons was sold to Astra, making it now part of AstraZeneca. Sodium cromoglycate was the first clinically utilised mast cell stabiliser. The mast cell plays a key role in allergic and asthmatic inflammation. Mast cells contain powerful inflammatory mediators which when released lead to inflammation and bronchoconstriction of the airway. Sodium cromoglycate stabilises the mast cell thereby preventing the release of the mediators.
The Ambicromil (Probicromil) patent also has his name on it and is from Loughborough, Leicestershire.[2] This is a Benzodipyran structure.
War serviceedit
Altounyan joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 and became a flying instructor. He was regarded as an "exceptional" instructor of bomber pilots and in 1943 he was appointed to the staff of a school for flying instructors. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for developing new techniques in night flying.[3] His flying experience is said to be the inspiration for the "spinhaler", a propeller-driven device to deliver sodium cromoglycate deep into the lungs.[4]
Swallows and Amazonsedit
During his childhood, the Altounyans visited their British grandparents (his grandfather was W. G. Collingwood) in the Lake District where they met the writer Arthur Ransome. Ransome named some of the primary characters in his famous book, Swallows and Amazons, after Altounyan and three of his four sisters; Roger became Roger Walker the ship's boy. Ransome later stayed with the family in Aleppo, bringing them a small dinghy to sail, and writing most of Peter Duck there.[5][6]
Beehive. Describes the book by Rodney Dingle entitled "Roger, The life and distinguished achievements of Dr. Roger Altounyan".
Orr TS. "Roger Altounyan: the man and his work." Respir Med. 1989 May;83 Suppl A:3–6.
Cohen SG. "Asthma among the famous. Roger E. C. Altounyan (1922–1987) British physician and pharmacologist." Allergy Asthma Proc. 1998 Sep–Oct;19(5):328–32.
^"Roger Ernest Collingwood Altounyan | RCP Museum". history.rcplondon.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
^DE 2851440, Cairns, Hugh; Lee, Thomas Brian & Ingall, Anthony Howard et al., "Neue Salze von 2,8-Dicarboxy-4,6-dioxo-10-propyl-4H,6H-benzo[1,2-b zu 5,4-b]dipyran und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung [New salt of 2,8-dicarboxy-4,6-dioxo-10-propyl-4H,6H-benzo[1,2-b to 5,4-b]dipyrane and method for manufacturing thereof]", published 1979-05-31, assigned to Fisons Ltd.
^Hannaway, Paul (2004). What To Do When The Doctor Says Its Asthma: Everything You Need to Know About Medicines, Allergies, Food and Exercise to Breathe More Easily Every Day. Gloucester, MA: Fair Winds Press. p. 113. ISBN1-59233-104-1.
^Ransome, Arthur (1976). The Autobiography of Arthur Ransome. Jonathan Cape Ltd. ISBN0224012452.
^Brogan, Hugh (1992) [1984]. The Life of Arthur Ransome. Pimlico. ISBN0712652493.
January 01, 1970
roger, altounyan, roger, edward, collingwood, altounyan, 1922, 1987, syrian, born, anglo, armenian, physician, pharmacologist, pioneered, sodium, cromoglycate, remedy, asthma, family, relocated, united, kingdom, where, studied, medicine, started, pioneering, r. Roger Edward Collingwood Altounyan 1922 1987 was a Syrian born Anglo Armenian physician and pharmacologist who pioneered the use of sodium cromoglycate as a remedy for asthma 1 His family relocated to the United Kingdom where he studied medicine and started his pioneering research Contents 1 Career 1 1 Pharmacological research 1 2 War service 2 Swallows and Amazons 3 See also 4 ReferencesCareer editPharmacological research edit Starting with khella a traditional remedy for asthma Altounyan discovered in 1965 that khella s active ingredient was khellin He eventually produced a safer chemical based on khellin sodium cromoglycate This was later marketed as Intal by Fisons Pharmaceuticals which was taken over by Rhone Poulenc Rorer who in turn were acquired into Aventis and Sanofi aventis Prior to the RPR takeover the R amp D element of Fisons was sold to Astra making it now part of AstraZeneca Sodium cromoglycate was the first clinically utilised mast cell stabiliser The mast cell plays a key role in allergic and asthmatic inflammation Mast cells contain powerful inflammatory mediators which when released lead to inflammation and bronchoconstriction of the airway Sodium cromoglycate stabilises the mast cell thereby preventing the release of the mediators The Ambicromil Probicromil patent also has his name on it and is from Loughborough Leicestershire 2 This is a Benzodipyran structure War service edit Altounyan joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 and became a flying instructor He was regarded as an exceptional instructor of bomber pilots and in 1943 he was appointed to the staff of a school for flying instructors He was awarded the Air Force Cross for developing new techniques in night flying 3 His flying experience is said to be the inspiration for the spinhaler a propeller driven device to deliver sodium cromoglycate deep into the lungs 4 Swallows and Amazons editDuring his childhood the Altounyans visited their British grandparents his grandfather was W G Collingwood in the Lake District where they met the writer Arthur Ransome Ransome named some of the primary characters in his famous book Swallows and Amazons after Altounyan and three of his four sisters Roger became Roger Walker the ship s boy Ransome later stayed with the family in Aleppo bringing them a small dinghy to sail and writing most of Peter Duck there 5 6 See also editSelf experimentationReferences editNational Institutes of Health Breath Exhibit Beehive Describes the book by Rodney Dingle entitled Roger The life and distinguished achievements of Dr Roger Altounyan Orr TS Roger Altounyan the man and his work Respir Med 1989 May 83 Suppl A 3 6 Cohen SG Asthma among the famous Roger E C Altounyan 1922 1987 British physician and pharmacologist Allergy Asthma Proc 1998 Sep Oct 19 5 328 32 Roger Ernest Collingwood Altounyan RCP Museum history rcplondon ac uk Retrieved 14 February 2024 DE 2851440 Cairns Hugh Lee Thomas Brian amp Ingall Anthony Howard et al Neue Salze von 2 8 Dicarboxy 4 6 dioxo 10 propyl 4H 6H benzo 1 2 b zu 5 4 b dipyran und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung New salt of 2 8 dicarboxy 4 6 dioxo 10 propyl 4H 6H benzo 1 2 b to 5 4 b dipyrane and method for manufacturing thereof published 1979 05 31 assigned to Fisons Ltd Howell Jack 2004 Roger Edward Collingwood Altounyan 1922 1987 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 39253 Subscription or UK public library membership required Hannaway Paul 2004 What To Do When The Doctor Says Its Asthma Everything You Need to Know About Medicines Allergies Food and Exercise to Breathe More Easily Every Day Gloucester MA Fair Winds Press p 113 ISBN 1 59233 104 1 Ransome Arthur 1976 The Autobiography of Arthur Ransome Jonathan Cape Ltd ISBN 0224012452 Brogan Hugh 1992 1984 The Life of Arthur Ransome Pimlico ISBN 0712652493 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roger Altounyan amp oldid 1214950213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
