William Prusoff

William Prusoff (1920-2011) was a renowned pharmacologist and virologist known for his significant contributions to the field of antiviral therapy. He is best known for the development of the antiviral drug Idoxuridine, the first antiviral medication approved by the FDA.

Early Life and Education

Prusoff was born in 1920 in New York City. He completed his undergraduate studies at the City College of New York in 1941, majoring in Chemistry. He then pursued his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Yale University, which he completed in 1948.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Prusoff joined the faculty at Yale University as a research scientist. His research primarily focused on the development of antiviral drugs. In 1959, he developed Idoxuridine, an antiviral medication used to treat herpes simplex keratitis. This was the first antiviral drug to be approved by the FDA.

In addition to Idoxuridine, Prusoff also contributed to the development of other antiviral drugs, including Stavudine, a drug used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Legacy

Prusoff's work has had a significant impact on the field of antiviral therapy. His development of Idoxuridine paved the way for the development of other antiviral drugs. His contributions to the field have been recognized with several awards, including the William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology.

See Also

• Antiviral drug
• Pharmacology
• Virology

References

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External Links

• Official Website

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  Portrait of William Prusoff by Laura Prusoff