After the nationalization of pharmaceutical industry and establishment of the United Pharmaceutical Enterprises in 1946, the Research and Control Institute (VKÚ) was established in Prague in 1947 to support the development of research, manufacture, and control of drugs. After other measures of nationalization and unification of research, in 1951 the research sections of the VKÚ and the pharmaceutical sections of the Research Institute of ČCHZ were fused to form the Research Institute for Pharmacy and Biochemistry (VÚFB). The section the VÚFB taking care of the quality of production was transformed into the Pharmaceutical Control Institute (KÚF). Each of the institutes had its own farm for breeding experimental animals outside Prague. In 1958, KÚF was transformed into the Research Institute of Medicinal Plants (VÚLERO) and later, in 1960, into the Research Institute of Natural Substances (VÚPL), which eventually fused with VÚFB in 1967. During the years of increasing activities of VÚFB, a chemical pilot plantwas established inOlomouc, and a department of clinical pharmacology in Plzeň. Research activities of VÚFB were aimed to search for original drugs and to develop non-proprietary medicines in the field of the central and vegetative nervous systems, blood circulation, inflammatory processes, microbial infections, carcinostatic drugs, etc. In natural substances, the greatest attention was paid to ergot alkaloids, but the extent of research also included the constituents of the poppy, periwinkle, and other plants. An important part of the programme was also the breeding and cultivation of selectedmedicinal plants. The results of research were continuously published in both inland and foreign scholarly journals and at conferences and congresses. Every year, usually more than 100 papers were published and 40–50 for patents applications were submitted. The activity of the Institute resulted in the production of 30 original substances which were introduced into therapeutic practice. Twenty of them are still commonly prescribed. Some of these original substances got into foreign markets, particularly Prothiaden and Trimepranol represented important exports. In addition, 83 non-proprietary drugs were introduced into the inland market.

        Key words: pharmaceutical research – Research Institute for Pharmacy and Biochemistry – original medicinal products