La farmacogenómica forma parte de la llamada medicina de precisión. La integración de la farmacogenómica en la práctica clínica ofrece la posibilidad de seleccionar el tipo y la dosis del medicamento en función de la predisposición genética de cada persona con el fin de mejorar la efectividad y la seguridad del tratamiento. Actualmente, se pueden realizar análisis farmacogenéticos de ciertos biomarcadores que están respaldados por una evidencia clínica sólida. En hospitales se han establecido unidades multidisciplinares de farmacogenética que orientan a los facultativos sobre el uso más adecuado de determinados fármacos. Los informes farmacogenéticos, complementados con la monitorización terapéutica, permiten predecir mejor la respuesta farmacológica y optimizar el uso de ciertos medicamentos. Cabe señalar que toda prueba genética con fines diagnósticos o terapéuticos requiere de la interpretación de los resultados por parte de un profesional sanitario cualificado, por lo que la adquisición y la realización de estos análisis fuera de entornos clínicos y unidades especializadas podrían suponer un riesgo para el usuario.
La presente revisión recoge la intervención de la autora en la Mesa Redonda «Farmacia y Museos» celebrada en la Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia en septiembre de 2025. Se analiza la contribución al Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN) de tres farmacéuticos naturalistas del siglo XIX: Fernando Amor y Mayor, Francisco de Paula Martínez y Sáez y Francisco Quiroga y Rodríguez, destacando su labor en la ampliación de colecciones, la investigación en Ciencias Naturales y su participación en expediciones científicas como la Comisión Científica del Pacífico (1862-1866) y la expedición al Sáhara (1886). Asimismo, se señala la presencia de estos científicos en las exposiciones permanentes y temporales del Museo. Se menciona también a Concepción Sáenz Laín, primera directora del MNCN, cuya gestión en los años 80 resultó decisiva para la renovación de la institución.
The chromatographic purification on silica gel of complex mixtures can pose several issues for chemists (e.g. degradation or racemization). Switching to aluminium oxide as the stationary phase could be a strategically successful choice. Herein, some practical advice for its effective use is disclosed.
The self-regulation system of the pharmaceutical industry in Spain, promoted by Farmaindustria, represents an innovative and exemplary model that bolsters transparency, ethics, and trust in a sector critical to public health. This system is structured through the Code of Good Practices, in effect since 2002 and periodically updated, which establishes standards more stringent than prevailing legislation, governing the promotion of medicines and interactions with healthcare professionals, healthcare organizations, and patient associations. Its significance stems from several core aspects. Firstly, under the principle of transparency, it incorporates external verification mechanisms, such as the public disclosure of value transfers between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare stakeholders (including healthcare organizations, professionals, and patient groups), as well as third-party evaluations of scientific meetings, thereby managing conflicts of interest and ensuring that medical decisions are grounded in clinical criteria rather than undue incentives. Secondly, it fosters societal trust by evidencing the industry’s voluntary commitment to ethical standards exceeding legal requirements. Moreover, it has driven a cultural transformation within companies, professionalizing interactions and promoting responsible conduct. This framework also positions Spain as an international benchmark, preempting societal and regulatory demands, adapting to technological challenges, and establishing a model adopted by other nations. Ultimately, Spanish pharmaceutical self-regulation not only safeguards the sector’s integrity and patient safety but also enhances the sustainability and credibility of biomedical innovation. It exemplifies how ethics and transparency can harmoniously coexist with business development, thereby generating societal value.
Immune tolerance is an essential process that enables the immune system to discriminate between self and foreign antigens, thereby preventing harmful immune responses against innocuous antigens. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), characterized by the expression of the transcription factor FOXP3, play a central role as active regulators of the immune response by modulating the activation, proliferation, and function of effector cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Research on Tregs has transformed basic and clinical immunology, revealing their pivotal role in autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, cancer, and transplant rejection. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognized fundamental advances in the understanding of Treg-mediated immune tolerance by awarding this honor to three investigators whose contributions were key to the discovery of these cells. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of Treg biology, mechanisms of immunosuppression, their role in immune tolerance, implications in diverse pathologies, and emerging therapeutic strategies, thereby consolidating an updated conceptual framework for the research and clinical application of Treg-based therapies.
Oral diseases represent a major global public health problem, affecting more than 3.5 billion people worldwide, with dental caries and periodontal disease being the most prevalent conditions. Risk factors such as high-carbohydrate diets, poor oral hygiene, and smoking contribute significantly to their incidence. In light of increasing bacterial resistance to conventional treatments, there is growing interest in accessible and safe therapeutic alternatives. The aim of this study was to review the scientific literature on the application of essential oils as antimicrobial agents in dentistry. A documentary review was conducted through searches in international databases, selecting studies published in the last ten years that evaluated the antimicrobial activity of essential oils against oral pathogens. Findings indicate that compounds such as eugenol, thymol, and carvacrol exhibit multifactorial mechanisms of action, including inhibition of bacterial growth, modulation of virulence gene expression, and reduction of biofilm formation. These results support the potential of essential oils as adjuvants in the prevention and treatment of dental caries and periodontal diseases. In conclusion, essential oils represent a promising therapeutic alternative in dentistry; however, clinical evidence remains limited. Controlled trials and standardized protocols are required to assess their biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and effects on the oral microbiome to consolidate their application in clinical practice.
The pharma sales representative plays a crucial role as an intermediary between the pharmaceutical industry—responsible for the research, development, and presentation of therapeutic innovations in the pharmacological field—and healthcare professionals, particularly physicians. Pharma sales representation fulfills a dual function: firstly, providing technical-scientific information and advice regarding medicines, and secondly, serving a commercial purpose aimed at achieving corporate objectives. This article examines the historical development of this scientific-commercial activity in Spain, from its earliest records to the end of the twentieth century, when the profession was definitively consolidated thanks to the European Directive 92/28/EEC and its corresponding Spanish transposition, Real Decreto 1416/1994 of June 25, “regulating the advertising of medicinal products for human use.” The study addresses, from a historical perspective, topics such as the daily work of medical/pharma sales representatives, their connections with the pharmaceutical industry, the working conditions of this professional group, the methods used for drug promotion among physicians, the relationships maintained with medical practitioners, the stance of the pharmaceutical collective—especially through the Unión Farmacéutica Nacional—and the mechanisms employed for the regulation and management of this professional role within the pharmaceutical industry.
The network of Spanish community pharmacies is one of the most accessible healthcare resources and the most highly valued by the population, thanks to its wide geographical distribution, extended opening hours, and professional proximity. Its role was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it ensured continuity of care and support for vulnerable patients in areas with limited access to other healthcare services. This article analyzes two areas with a long history in the development of community pharmacies for strengthening the healthcare system: the dispensing of Hospital Diagnosis and Hospital Dispensing (DHDH) medications and involvement in population vaccination programs. The collaborative dispensing experiences developed in different autonomous communities highlight the numerous advantages of coordination between hospital and community pharmacies, having been proven to improve patient access to medicines, reduce travel and associated costs, promote adherence, and provide socioeconomic and environmental benefits. National initiatives that endorse the contribution of pharmacies to vaccination campaigns through health education activities, active recruitment, and logistical support are also reviewed, as well as, in some neighboring countries, the direct administration of vaccines by pharmacists. Evidence indicates that the participation of pharmacists increases vaccination coverage, especially in the adult population, and reduces barriers to access. Taken together, these initiatives demonstrate the healthcare potential of community pharmacies as key players in local healthcare and in improving health outcomes.
This work presents the discovery and development of trabectedin (ET-743). The development of this marine-derived antitumor agent represents one of the greatest achievements in modern oncology and natural products chemistry. Originally discovered in the marine tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata, this molecule became the first marine-derived antitumor drug approved for clinical use and the first medication developed by a Spanish company to be authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Its development posed a multidisciplinary challenge that integrated marine bioprospecting, complex chemical synthesis, and advanced preclinical and clinical research.
The emergence of pharmacy museums in early 20th-century Spain was due to three unique factors. First, a collecting zeal linked to the legitimization of professional pharmaceutical activity, at a time when the presence of industrially manufactured medicines on the market undermined the fiat secundum artem that, until then, had been the hallmark of pharmaceutical work. This was compounded by the accession, in 1915, of Rafael Folch Andreu (1881-1960) to the Chair of History of Pharmacy and Comparative Study of Current Pharmacopoeias established at the Central University for doctoral studies, which meant the professionalization of those studying the History of Pharmacy and their participation in international meetings and conferences. The Hispanic participation in the congresses organized by the International Society for the History of Pharmacy, founded in 1926, is particularly linked to the first congress held in 1929 in Berlin, which included a simultaneous exhibition entitled Kunst- und Kulturgeschichtliches aus alten Apotheken at the Schlossmuseum.
During 2025, 95 medicines, including new drugs, were authorized: 63 in the EU (15 of which are not yet authorized in the US), 50 in the US (28 of which are not yet authorized in the EU), and 18 were authorized simultaneously during 2025. Of the 95 new drugs, 34% are biotechnological and 8% are advanced therapies (gene, somatic cell, or tissue engineering); half (49%) were classified as orphan drugs. Antineoplastic and immunomodulatory agents (42%) and anti-infectives for systemic use (12%) stand out numerically. 76% of the new drugs authorized in 2025 incorporate some degree of innovation. In the European Union, a total of 1,716 clinical trials were authorized or underway (ongoing) in 2025 (777, 45% of the total, located in Spain). 1,318 (518 in Spain; 39%) were already ongoing (with active or completed participant recruitment). In the United States, the number of clinical trials authorized or ongoing in 2025 was 3,350. Additionally, in the UE the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended a total of 89 extensions of therapeutic indications, for a total of 77 medicines, of which 52% were antineoplastic and immunomodulatory medicines and 22% were anti-infectives for systemic use.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, is a multifactorial and biologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease caused by a chronic, progressive, and irreversible degeneration of the central nervous system. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is performed by a combination of clinical evaluations, neuropsychological testing and brain imaging analysis, and the exclusion of other possible causes of symptoms. However, post mortem biomarker analysis of brain tissue provides the most effective form of diagnosis. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and early detection of the disease is key to intervening effectively, offering a better prognosis, and slowing the progression of symptoms. Right now, a key area of research is looking at biological biomarkers that can give important information about the disease, allowing for the detection of harmful changes early on, even before symptoms show up. Some of the most significant biomarkers include beta-amyloid protein, the amyloid-β protein oligomers, and tau protein. Soluble amyloid-β protein oligomers have become particularly significant due to their soluble nature, being highly neurotoxic and implicated in the early cognitive impairments associated with the disease. Using electrochemical biosensors to detect beta-amyloid oligomers is a new area of research that shows promise for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease early and without invasive procedures, thanks to their great ability to accurately identify substances, respond quickly, and be made smaller and automated.
Desde que, el 14 de diciembre de 1995, el Excmo. Sr. D. Juan Ramón Lacadena Calero ingresara en la Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia eligiendo, para su discurso de entrada, el título de Historia ‘nobelada’ de la Genética: concepto y método (Madrid, 1995) (1), un texto al que el autor ha dotado de un par de actualizaciones (2), (3), esta Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia de España ha prestado una especial atención a la difusión de los logros de quienes han sido galardonados con los premios Nobel en Medicina/Fisiología y Química.
Fármacos de nueva aprobación / Newly approved drugs(B) SANGRE Y SISTEMA HEMATOPOYÉTICO: Hemofilia A y B: Fitusiran (Qfitlia®; USA).Angioedema hereditario: Garadacimab (Andenbry®; UE). (H) PREPARACIONES HORMONALES SISTÉMICAS: Síndrome de Allan-Herndon-Dudley: Tiratricol (Emcitate®; UE). (J) ANTIINFECCIOSOS SISTÉMICOS: Infección urinaria no complicada: Gepotidacina (Blujepa®; USA). COVID-19: Sipavibart (Kavigale®; UE). COVID-19 (profilaxis): Zapomeran (Kostaive®; UE). Virus Chikungunya (profilaxis): Vacuna Chikungunya Recombinante (Vimkunya®; UE/USA). (L) AGENTES ANTINEOPLÁSICOS E INMUNOMODULADORES: Neurofibromatosis tipo 1: Mirdametinib (Gomekli®; USA). Tumor tenosinovial de células gigantes: Vimseltinib (Romvimza®; USA). Cáncer de pulmón microcítico: Serplulimab (Hetronifly®; UE). Ascitis maligna: Catumaxomab (Korjuny®; UE). Síndrome de distrés respiratorio por SARS-CoV2 (ARDS): Vilobelimab (Gohibic®; UE). Cáncer de mama: Datopotamab Daruxtecan (Datroway®; UE/USA). Cáncer cervical: Tisotumab Vedotina (Tivdak®; UE/USA). Enfermedad de von Hippel-Landau: Belzutifan (Welireg®; UE/USA). (N) SISTEMA NERVIOSO: Dolor agudo: Suzetrigina (Journavx®; USA). (V) VARIOS: Diagnóstico de la tuberculosis: Antígenos derivados de Mycobacterium tuberculosis (rdESAT-6/rCFP-10) (Siiltibcy ®; UE).
Queridísimo amigo Paco, ¡qué malas noticias nos da a veces el azar! Estabas viviendo un momento culminante en tu vida, dedicado a tus excepcionales y delicados poemas. A tus proyectos de investigación, con tus seguidores y colaboradores a quienes dirigías con tu saber seductor, tu ánimo y tu perseverancia, tal y como lo hacías cuando enseñabas.
The Spanish Pharmacy Faculties, both public and private, worked together, under the auspices of the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), to prepare a White Paper on the Pharmacy Degree, within the framework of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This study reviews the terms of the project, as set by existing European directives, and indicates the references adopted as guides and models. These include the following: the Advisory Committee on Pharmaceutical Training of the European Union; the Consultative Group of Vancouver (WHO); the Vienna Statement of Good Pharmacy Education Practice (FIP); the Statements of General Principles of the Pharmaceutical Profession drawn up by the General Council of the Official Colleges of Pharmacy in Spain, as well as the Statements of La Laguna and Malta of the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy (EAFP) and of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU). The White Paper pays special attention to the interfaces with computing, molecular biology, and hospital pharmacy so that they are incorporated into the curricula as new material and, if necessary, as descriptors. Indeed, regulation CIN/2137/2008 is a projection and reflection of the proposal set out in the White Paper and is a substantial advance from the perspective of consolidated or newly acquired professional competences for pharmacy, in accordance with the new roles oriented towards the patient, which are being assigned to the profession. Finally, using historical connotations, the past role and the future direction of the pharmacy profession are considered, emphasizing the value of the pharmaceutical sciences, as well as the richness and interdisciplinary character of both the studies and profession of pharmacy.
Objective. The presence of fungi in mineral-medicinal waters has been poorly studied, and most studies have focused on the bacterial microbiota. Therefore, the presence of filamentous fungi and yeasts in the waters of mineral-medicinal spas in Ecuador was investigated. Method. Fifty-two water samples from three mineral-medicinal spas located in the provinces of Imbabura, Napo, and Tungurahua in Ecuador were analyzed. The quantification and isolation of filamentous fungi and yeasts was performed using membrane filtration. 100 mL of each water sample from the three spas was filtered in duplicate. Sabouraud agar plates with 0.05% chloramphenicol and CompactDry™ plates were used, and the samples were incubated at 24°C for 7 to 15 days. Results were expressed as colony-forming units per 100 mL of sample. Colony identification was performed according to the criteria of Pitt and Hocking. Results. The mineral-medicinal water samples yielded average counts of filamentous fungi and yeasts ranging from 0 to 34 CFU/mL. No filamentous fungi or yeast were detected in the water at the “Santagua de Chachimbiro” Spa. Colonies of the species Acremonium strictum, Alternaria spp., Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum, Fusarium spp., Penicillium chrysogenum, and the yeast species Rhodotorula alborubescens were isolated and identified. Conclusions. The presence of filamentous fungi and yeasts in the water suggests the need for periodic monitoring to ensure the sanitary quality of the water and the health of users.
Ambroxol and clenbuterol syrups have a complementary action, combining a bronchodilator (clenbuterol) and an expectorant and mucolytic (ambroxol). This medication is designed to facilitate the elimination of excess mucus and phlegm, helping to open the airways in acute and chronic airway diseases accompanied by bronchospasm, COPD, and bronchial asthma. These medications are available in pharmacies and are widely used by the Venezuelan population. The chromatographic conditions of the analytical methodology proposed in this work were as follows: a C18 column, with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, methanol, and buffer/1-octane sulfonic acid in a ratio of (15:20:65) % v/v at a pH of 3.70, a mobile phase flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, an injection volume of 15 µL, and a wavelength of 245 nm. Sample treatment is critically important in the analysis, as the analytes must be completely dissolved. The mobile phase was used as a diluent, and excellent dissolution of both ambroxol and clenbuterol was found. The results obtained in this work demonstrate that the proposed method is precise, specific, accurate, and reliable under the analytical conditions developed.
Objective: To investigate the relationship between chronic ethanol consumption (20.0%), body weight variation, and intake patterns in Wistar rats; quantitative, controlled, longitudinal experimental study. Methods: Twelve male rats were divided into a control group (water) and an experimental group (20.0% ethanol for 13 weeks). Body weight and ethanol consumption data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression and Pearson correlation. Results: The ethanol group showed lower weight gain (β = − 120.2 g; p < 0.001) and a negative correlation between consumption and body weight (r = − 0.62; p < 0.001). The model explained 89.0% of the variation (R² = 0.89). Conclusion: Ethanol consumption significantly reduces body weight, with a dose-dependent effect.
This paper provides an overview of some of the early history of titrimetric analysis, focusing on the contribution of pharmacists to this field.
