Antonín Holý
Encyclopedia
Antonín Holý is a Czech
scientist. He specialises in the field of chemistry
and cooperated on the development of important antiretroviral drug
s used in the treatment of HIV
and hepatitis B. He was involved in the creation of the most effective drug (as of early 2009) in the treatment of AIDS
. Antonín Holý is the author of more than 400 scientific discoveries and holds 60 patents. In 2008 he received an Honorary Professorship at the University of Manchester
's School of Chemistry.
, Czechoslovakia
, Antonín Holý studied organic chemistry
from 1954 to 1959 at the Faculty of Science of Charles University in Prague
. From 1960 he trained at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
in Prague and has been a researcher there since 1963. He became the Institute's lead scientist in 1967, and from 1983 headed its working group for nucleic acids. In 1987 he became chief of the Department of Nucleid Acid Chemistry and from 1994 to 2002 he was head of the IOCB.
Since 1976 he has collaborated on the development of new antiretroviral drugs with Erik DeClercq of the Rega Institute for Medical Research
at the Catholic University of Leuven
, Belgium
.
In 2006 the US biopharmaceutical
company Gilead Sciences
and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic jointly established a new research center, oriented to the development of new preparations. Gilead promised the IOCB a 1.1 million donation, to fund its operations and research for 5 years.
Several antiretroviral drugs based on Holý's discoveries have been licensed. In 1996, Vistide was approved for production in the United States
and European Union
. Viread (tenofovir) was approved in the USA in 2001 for the treatment of AIDS
, and Hepsera was approved in 2003 for the treatment of hepatitis B. Truvada
, a combination of Viread and emtricitabine
, was approved in 2006 for use in the USA.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
scientist. He specialises in the field of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and cooperated on the development of important antiretroviral drug
Antiretroviral drug
Antiretroviral drugs are medications for the treatment of infection by retroviruses, primarily HIV. When several such drugs, typically three or four, are taken in combination, the approach is known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, or HAART...
s used in the treatment of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and hepatitis B. He was involved in the creation of the most effective drug (as of early 2009) in the treatment of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. Antonín Holý is the author of more than 400 scientific discoveries and holds 60 patents. In 2008 he received an Honorary Professorship at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
's School of Chemistry.
Scientific career
Born in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Antonín Holý studied organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
from 1954 to 1959 at the Faculty of Science of Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
. From 1960 he trained at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
The Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences was established in 1953 to be the scientific center for Czechoslovakia. It was succeeded by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 1992.-History:...
in Prague and has been a researcher there since 1963. He became the Institute's lead scientist in 1967, and from 1983 headed its working group for nucleic acids. In 1987 he became chief of the Department of Nucleid Acid Chemistry and from 1994 to 2002 he was head of the IOCB.
Since 1976 he has collaborated on the development of new antiretroviral drugs with Erik DeClercq of the Rega Institute for Medical Research
Rega Institute for Medical Research
The Rega Institute for Medical Research is a Belgian scientific establishment that is part of the Catholic University of Leuven in central Belgium...
at the Catholic University of Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
In 2006 the US biopharmaceutical
Biopharmaceutical
Biopharmaceuticals are medical drugs produced using biotechnology. They include proteins , nucleic acids and living microorganisms like virus and bacteria where the virulence of viruses and bacteria is reduced by the process of attenuation, they can be used for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic...
company Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes therapeutics. For many years since the company was founded, the company concentrated primarily on antiviral drugs to treat patients infected with HIV, hepatitis B or influenza. In 2006, Gilead acquired two...
and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic jointly established a new research center, oriented to the development of new preparations. Gilead promised the IOCB a 1.1 million donation, to fund its operations and research for 5 years.
Several antiretroviral drugs based on Holý's discoveries have been licensed. In 1996, Vistide was approved for production in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Viread (tenofovir) was approved in the USA in 2001 for the treatment of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, and Hepsera was approved in 2003 for the treatment of hepatitis B. Truvada
Truvada
Tenofovir/emtricitabine, trademark Truvada, is a fixed-dose combination of two antiretroviral drugs used for the treatment of HIV. It consists of 300 milligrams of tenofovir and 200 milligrams of emtricitabine. By combining the two agents into one tablet, it reduces the pill burden and increases...
, a combination of Viread and emtricitabine
Emtricitabine
Emtricitabine , with trade name Emtriva , is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV infection in adults and children....
, was approved in 2006 for use in the USA.
Awards
- 1984 State Prize for Chemistry (Acyklická analoga nukleotidů a nukleotidů)
- 1998 Hanuš's Medal of the Czech Chemical Society
- 1999 Honorary doctorate of the Palacký UniversityPalacký University, OlomoucThe Palacký University of Olomouc is the oldest university in Moravia and the second-oldest in the Czech Republic. It was established in 1573 as a public university led by the Jesuit order in Olomouc, which was at that time the capital of Moravia and the seat of the episcopacy...
in OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic... - 2001 Descartes PrizeDescartes PrizeThe Descartes Prize is an annual award in science given by the European Union, named in honour of the French mathematician and philosopher, René Descartes....
of the European Union; The Medal of Merit of the Czech Republic (Za zásluhy) I. degree - 2003 Honorary membership in the Rega Institute for Medical Research, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
- 2004 Award Praemium Bohemiae; Medal of the Czech Academy of Sciences: De scientia et humanitate optime meritis
- 2005 Honorary doctorate of the Ghent UniversityGhent UniversityGhent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
(Belgium); The Medal of Merit of the Faculty of Science at the Charles University in Prague. - 2006 Member of the European Academy of Sciences and ArtsEuropean Academy of Sciences and ArtsThe European Academy of Sciences and Arts was created in 1990 in Salzburg, Austria by heart surgeon Felix Unger of Salzburg; the cardinal archbishop of Vienna, Franz König; and the political scientist and philosopher Nikolaus Lobkowicz....
(SalzburgSalzburg-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
) - 2007 State Prize "Czech Head" (Česká hlava)
External links
- Biography, honours, bibliography
- Antonín Holý at the website of Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AS CR, v.v.i.
- Professor Antonín Holý at www.czech.cz - Personalities of Today
- Holý's discoveries at the website of 10th International Congress of Dermathology
- Interview with Antonín Holý about art and science, published in Czech e-daily www.blisty.cz, and Slovak daily Obroda, in 2004