An outgrowth of the Agouron Institute, a non-profit research organization formed in 1978 as a vehicle to tackle research in biology and chemistry, in 1984 Agouron Pharmaceuticals, In was formed to exploit the potential of some of the Institute efforts. A pioneer and leader in technologies for the atom by atom design of novel synthetic drugs based upon the molecular structures of target proteins which play key roles in human disease, the for-profit entity became a major biotechnology company with its first rationally designed drug, Viracept⢠is a leading HIV protease inhibitor. The use of protease inhibitors together with reverse transcriptase inhibitors in a multi-drug therapy regime has led to a dramatic decrease in deaths due to AIDS. Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc was acquired in May 1999, by Warner-Lambert Company (NYSE: WLA) for $2.1 Billion in stock. Warner-Lambert was itself subsequently acquired by Pfizer. Agouron's other potential products include two cancer drug
