In 1971, the Journal Nature published three papers of the group of John Vane, the then Professor of Pharmacology at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
In his pioneering articles, Vane demonstrated for the first time a new mode of action of aspirin that was able to explain its anti-inflammation and antipyretic actions by one single pharmacology mechanisms: inhibition of biosynthesis of prostaglandins, a group of pro-inflammatory pain mediators.
The action prevents blood from clumping together to produce a clot. Thus aspirin is referred to as an anti-platelet agent that is a mild blood thinner.
John Vane’s breakthrough discovery was followed by several other discoveries which also helped to build up the full picture of how aspirin worked.
These findings of John Vane and the discovery of prostacyclin 5 years later were honored by the Nobel Prize for Medicine awarded to him in 1982.
Sir John Robert Vane and aspirin
