[Good and bad fortunes of drugs].

A drug's lifetime, whether it is short or long, may go through fantastic new developments. Such is the case with beta-blockers, some of which have long been prescribed in heart failure before having made the definite proof of their efficacy, provided they are used carefully regarding the Good Product Use. On the other hand, the development of mibefradil, a calcic antagonist prescribed in the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris, was stopped abruptly a few weeks before its launching because of the occurrence of serious side effects in patients suffering from heart failure. These examples, which are taken amongst others, clearly show the difficulties encountered by pharmaceutical companies that are concerned in putting forward innovative, efficacious, and ... secure drugs.