Book excerpt: Artemisinin-Based and Other Antimalarials: Detailed Account of Studies by Chinese Scientists Who Discovered and Developed Them provides a historical and scientific background of the discovery and development of artemisinin, artemisinin derivatives, combination drugs and related chemicals. It is a historical document, a scientific treatise, and a fascinating description of innovative research on new drug development that is carried out under extremely difficult conditions. The book also includes detailed experiments, physical-chemical procedures, practical methodologies and clinical trials. It is a valuable reference for students and researchers in the fields of scientific history, medicine, pharmaceutical science, chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. - Presents details of all stages of drug development, including in vitro experiment, animal exploratory studies, animal tests for toxicity, safety and efficacy followed by stages I, II, III and IV, safety and efficacy in human volunteers and patients with malaria - Provides many physical-chemical laboratory procedures, such as NMR, MS, HPLC and X-ray diffraction used in drug development - Includes practical methodology of clinical trials from many research centers and countries to demonstrate the importance of this discovery