Roger Altounyan
Encyclopedia
Roger Edward Collingwood Altounyan (1922–1987) was an Armenian physician
and pharmacologist who pioneered the use of sodium cromoglycate as a remedy for asthma
. His family relocated to the United Kingdom where he studied medicine and started his pioneering research.
. 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 utilized mast cell stabilizer. 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 stabilizes the mast cell thereby preventing the release of the mediators.
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. His flying experience is said to be the inspiration for the "spinhaler", a propeller-driven device to deliver sodium cromoglycate deep into the lungs.
) 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 came and stayed with the family in Aleppo
, bringing them a small dinghy
to sail, and writing most of Peter Duck
there.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and pharmacologist who pioneered the use of sodium cromoglycate as a remedy for asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. His family relocated to the United Kingdom where he studied medicine and started his pioneering research.
Pharmacological research
Starting with khella, a traditional remedy for asthma, Altounyan discovered in 1965 that khella's active ingredient was khellinKhellin
Khellin is a furanochromone, an organic compound which is derivative of chromone and furan. It has lipophilic properties and causes vasodilation . It is found in the plant Ammi visnaga which has been used in Egyptian folk medicine.In Egypt, the plant "Khella" was used for renal colic...
. He eventually produced a safer chemical based on khellin, sodium cromoglycate. This was later marketed as Intal by Fisons Pharmaceuticals
Fisons
Fisons plc was a leading British pharmaceutical, scientific instrument and horticultural chemical manufacturer. The Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but it was acquired by Rhone-Poulenc in 1995....
, which was taken over by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, who in turn were acquired into Aventis
Aventis
Aventis was a pharmaceutical and lab assay testing company. It was formed in 1999 when Rhône-Poulenc S.A. merged with Hoechst AG. The merged company was based in Strasbourg, France. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, Aventis was the product of the first transnational merger to combine large...
and sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi S.A. is a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France, the world's fourth-largest by prescription sales. Sanofi engages in the research and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products for sale principally in the prescription market, but the...
. Prior to the RPR takeover, the R&D element of Fisons was sold to Astra, making it now part of AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
. Sodium cromoglycate was the first clinically utilized mast cell stabilizer. 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 stabilizes the mast cell thereby preventing the release of the mediators.
War service
Altounyan joined the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
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
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
for developing new techniques in night flying. His flying experience is said to be the inspiration for the "spinhaler", a propeller-driven device to deliver sodium cromoglycate deep into the lungs.
Swallows and Amazons
During his childhood, the Altounyans visited their British grandparents (his grandfather was W. G. CollingwoodW. G. Collingwood
William Gershom Collingwood, was an author, artist, antiquary and Professor of Fine Arts at Reading University....
) in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
where they met the writer Arthur Ransome
Arthur Ransome
Arthur Michell Ransome was an English author and journalist, best known for writing the Swallows and Amazons series of children's books. These tell of school-holiday adventures of children, mostly in the Lake District and the Norfolk Broads. Many of the books involve sailing; other common subjects...
. Ransome named some of the primary characters in his famous book, Swallows and Amazons
Swallows and Amazons
Swallows and Amazons is the first book in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome; it was first published in 1930, with the action taking place in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District...
, after Altounyan and three of his four sisters; Roger became Roger Walker the ship's boy. Ransome later came and stayed with the family in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, bringing them a small dinghy
Dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...
to sail, and writing most of Peter Duck
Peter Duck
Peter Duck is the third book in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome. The Swallows and Amazons sail to Crab Island with Captain Flint and Peter Duck an old sailor to recover buried treasure...
there.