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Family Roots
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As a medical researcher people often ask "What's the best DHEA
precursor?." While I am not a physician and cannot diagnose,
prescribe or treat, I can search the many repositories of knowledge
around the world and come up with an answer. A strong indicator of
a product's integrity is the man behind the formulation. One of the
first pharmokenetic experts and DHEA advocates was Jim Jamieson.
While most of us were playing cowboys and Indians or shooting
buckets, Jamieson's childhood consisted of playing with his father's
pharmaceutical paraphernalia, keening in on his interest for
botanical knowledge and sharpening his tenacity for the who, what,
when, where and why of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The Jamieson family has been in the pharmaceutical manufacturing
business for over 100 years in the United States, and even before
that in Ireland. Grandfather Jamieson established a reputable
pharmaceutical manufacturing company producing products for the
major drug companies. He was there at the forefront in creating the
oral dosage of penicillin for Schenley Labs and liquid
antacids.
Jim's father is considered one of the truly great pharmaceutical
technicians in America serving as consultant and advisor to Eli
Lilly, Kendel Co., Merck, and others. Along with Dr. Koltz, he
developed the first diagnostic equipment which allowed physicians to
do in-office blood work, resulting in a substantial savings in time
and money. This equipment and company sold to Hoerscht Roussel, is
state-of-the-art, still today.
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A Prolific Innovator
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With these "big shoes" to fill, young Jamieson spread his own
innovative wings and created quite an impressive list of
achievements himself. While a pre-med student at Washington
University, his father became ill and he had to work the family
business full time. He continued his education, including graduate
work at the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy. At that time,
universities did not teach pharmaceutical manufacturing, an art as
well as a science. Intrigued with manufacturing and equipment
design, he developed equipment which eliminated many of the
drawbacks found in equipment at that time. For example:
- Developed the P/K blender, a bladeless blender,
eliminating cross contaminants which mixes both wet and dry. It
allows the addition of microdoses of active ingredients,
resulting in very accurate dosages.
- Created automatic sugar and film coating
equipment and a fluid bed drying system.
- Developed the process to convert penicillin G to
Ampicillin resulting in a dramatic cost
reduction.
- First to import the broad spectrum antibiotic
tetracycline HCL, which cracked the international
pharmaceutical cartel.
- Developed a process based on cold lypholization to
convert Quinine HCL to Quinidine Sulfate, a natural
Cinchona-derived cardiovascular drug. (The European cartel
controlled the processing of both Quinine and Quinidine. By
importing European Quinine into the US, Jamieson economically
converted it to Quinidine.)
- For eight long years fought a "David and Goliath"
battle to establish the right to manufacture generic
drugs. The industry flourishes today because of that
victory. Jamieson's belief that the delivery system of a drug is
just as important as the active ingredient led to the pioneering
delivery system for oral, topical and liquid dosage forms. He
also did the original work on transdermal and adhesive systems.
Jamieson became one of the nation's most sought-after
formulators, and holds over 100 drug patents.
Throughout the years Jamieson has served as consultant for Merck & Co.,
3M, Byk Guilden, Glaxo, Dome Chemical, Armour Pharmaceutical, Hoffman
LaRoche, Rikers Labs, Warner Lambert, Con Beverage, and Dow
Chemical.
Other major milestones in the pharmaceutical world that he is noted for
include:
- Formed the first mail-order prescription service in
America.
- Founded the Payless Pharmacare and Med Save Pharmacy chains.
- Developed the first unit dose liquid medication dispensing
system in hospitals.
- Developed the first time released niacin supplement which
eliminated the unpleasant side effects.
- Developed the first solid oral dosage form of Acetaminophen
(Tylenol).
- Developed the first sustained release Papaverine (Pavab II) and
licensed this to Nysco Labs, who in turn manufactured for Marion
Laboratories.
- Developed the first non-alcoholic liquid delivery system for
pediatric medication.
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Looking to the Future...
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Most recently, Jamieson's interests have focused on polymer
technology. He has developed various natural and synthetic polymer
systems used pharmaceutically as a sustained reservoir for oral,
topical and parenternal dosage forms. They are used as liquid
membrane systems for rapid and prolonged active dosage
forms.
Having always been interested in phyto nutrients, nutrition and
diet, he was principal in formulating the first topical wild yam
creams in the Seventies. While magazine articles have seemingly
made outrageous claims for DHEA saying it can cure cancer, old age
or what ever else ails you, reputable scientific journals have
supported the statements from studies designed to see if DHEA will
boost immunity in elderly people, prevent experimental cancers,
limit damage from burns, help relieve the symptoms of lupus, and of
course, answer questions about the cellular changes associated with
aging.
Although the jury is still out to determine whether DHEA supplements
can retard aging, many scientists hope that their research will lead
to its approval for certain uses, many of which are closely
correlated with growing older.
In 1994, Jim Jamieson rolled out his proprietary line of DHEA
precursor formulations. Under the trade names DHEA
Plus™ and Vita-DHEA™, he has established a
leading command in the DHEA supplement industry with these two
flagship products. When you buy these products you will know you
are buying the best... from a man who just won't stand still or rest
on past laurels!__KM
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