Propofol as a transformative drug in anesthesia: insights from key early investigators

To study the process of drug development in anesthesiology, we identified what expert anesthesiologists considered the most transformative new product in the field over the past 25 years propofol (Diprivane (R)) - and conducted an in-depth qualitative study into the features of its development. Experts with insights into propofol development were subjected to semi-structured interviews about their experiences with the drug. We found a number of important themes helped contribute to its discovery, such as positive aspects of the environment at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Individual anesthesiologists outside the company took a central role in driving the development process forward and ultimately making the product transformative. This episode provides lessons for drug developers interested in promoting similar transformative drug innovation.