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Senior Star
Dr. Solomon Margolin, 82, Still Contributing Great Discoveries to
Mankind
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Dimetapp and Coricidin
are just a couple of his discoveries. |
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Oct. 25, 2004 - Most
careers span about 45 years, and if you’re lucky, there are significant
accomplishments to reflect on when you retire. Then there are the
uncommon examples of people who continue to work past age 65, even
though they have achieved what most people consider incredible
accomplishments. Dr. Solomon Margolin is one of those people.
While most of his
peers retired at the usual age, Dr. Margolin continues to arrive at his
Dallas office every day to continue his life’s work – discovering new
drugs – so that others can benefit. At 82, he still has a passion for
science and finding drugs that benefit those in need.
“Why do I keep
working? There’s still more to do and we’re making breakthroughs that
will help people long after my career is over. Besides, I’d be bored if
I didn’t come to work every day,” says Margolin.
Margolin is founder
and president of MARNAC, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to
the discovery and development of new drugs to treat autoimmune,
inflammatory, and fibrotic disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
Before founding
MARNAC in 1990, Dr. Margolin had a lengthy career filled with successes.
He put his doctorate in physiology, biochemistry, and genetics from
Rutgers University to good use as he held several research and director
positions for major pharmaceutical laboratories around the United
States. He also served for 15 years as professor and chairman of the
pharmacology department and associate dean of the School of Medicine at
St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies.
Most people know his
work best by his discoveries that are now household names. He is the
inventor of more than 40 U.S. and foreign patents pertaining to
medicines. Furthermore, he has developed more than 20 FDA-approved
drugs, including several anti-histamines (Dimetapp®), cold
remedies (Coricidin), and anti-inflammatory steroids (prednisone and
prednisolone), which are prescribed and marketed worldwide. He is
co-author of Harper’s Handbook of Therapeutic Pharmacology and a
prolific author of professional publications describing research in the
discovery and development of widely known prescription and
non-prescription drugs.
“We can all look up
to Dr. Margolin as a dedicated researcher and a compassionate human
being. He’s a great colleague to have because he is a strong
collaborator and truly cares about finding therapies that will improve
the lives of patients,” said Jonathan E. Walker, M.D., associate
clinical professor of neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern
School of Medicine.
Talking with
Margolin, one’s first impression is his enthusiasm and passion for
finding better alternatives to treat disease. “I enjoy finding the
puzzle pieces and then figuring out how to put them together. This
puzzle has the added advantage of actually helping people,” said
Margolin.
That enthusiasm is
shared by his wife, Dr. Nancy Cox, also a part of the family business.
Cox is accomplished in her own rite. With significant medical research
experience and numerous published professional papers, she balances her
duties as medical director for MARNAC while maintaining a private
medical practice in Dallas.
Perhaps Margolin’s
current work is his most important discovery to date. He is developing
pirfenidone, used to treat secondary progressive MS. Still in clinical
trials, the drug holds great promise for people with this advanced form
of MS. Thus far, the drug has an unprecedented therapeutic record, as
well as a notable safety record in more than 1,000 patients. Pirfenidone
is the first orally effective, non-steroid hormone treatment for
advanced MS.
People like Sarah
Moore, 65, are grateful for his continued work. Moore has known Margolin
and Cox for many years. It so happens that Moore has an advanced form of
MS, which was debilitating her ability to walk or write. She was able to
obtain compassionate use from the FDA to use pirfenidone. After less
than three months on the drug, she had dramatic improvement in her
ability to walk, go up and down stairs, and write her name legibly. “I
never thought I would experience this new standard of living again, but
this drug [pirfenidone] that Solomon discovered has afforded me this
opportunity,” explains Moore.
Margolin has no
regrets about spending his golden years on the job. The way he sees it,
he still has more to contribute and he’s happier in the lab than on the
golf course.
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
