Scientists on verge of discovering morphine substitute

Research on the new drug is being led by professor Andrzej Lipkowski. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education devoted zł.800,00 for the project. The advantage of the medicine will be the fact that it will not result in dependence as morphine does. Scientists are aware that they are not only striving to find a new medicine that will improve the life of the sick, but also competing for big sums of money. The world market for morphine is worth USD 1 billion per year. Polish morphine production constitutes merely 1% of this and in 2005 it was worth EUR 2.2 million. Currently, research on the new medicine is in its pre-clinical stage. According to professor Lipkowski the drug could be produced in Poland by Polfa Warszawa or Vipharm. He also said that if they manage to get the money to finalize the research, the medicine would have chance to enter the market in five years time. (Rzeczpospolita, February 24-25, p. B1) M.M.