Roger Altounyan (1911 – 29 September 1987) was a British physician and pharmacologist of Armenian descent, noted for his pioneering contributions to the treatment of asthma, most prominently the discovery and development of the mast‑cell stabilising drug cromolyn sodium.
Early life and education
- Born in 1911 in Baku, then part of the Russian Empire, into an Armenian family that later relocated to Scotland.
- Educated at St John’s College, Oxford, where he read medicine, and subsequently qualified as a physician at the University of Edinburgh.
Medical career
- Served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War, gaining experience in respiratory medicine.
- After the war, he worked at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London, focusing on pulmonary diseases, especially asthma.
Research and contributions
- Conducted extensive studies on the pharmacology of asthma, investigating the role of mast cells and histamine release.
- In the early 1960s, Altunyan identified the anti‑asthmatic properties of a compound derived from the plant Khella (Ammi visnaga), leading to the synthesis of sodium cromoglycate (cromolyn sodium).
- Cromolyn sodium became the first non‑steroidal medication shown to prevent the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells, and it was introduced clinically under the trade name Intal.
- His work laid the foundation for modern mast‑cell stabilisers and contributed to the broader understanding of asthma pathophysiology.
Honours and legacy
- Knighted in 1985 for services to medicine, becoming Sir Roger Altounyan.
- Elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP).
- The Altounyan Center for Respiratory Research, part of the Royal Brompton Hospital, was named in his honour.
Selected publications
- Altunyan, R. (1965). “The effect of sodium cromoglycate on bronchial reactivity.” British Medical Journal, 2(5885), 659‑662.
- Altunyan, R., & Gienapp, G. (1970). “Mast‑cell stabilisers in the management of asthma.” Thorax, 25(2), 93‑99.
Personal life
- Married with children; maintained an interest in Armenian cultural affairs and supported related charitable activities.
Death
- Died on 29 September 1987 in London, United Kingdom.
Roger Altunyan’s research fundamentally transformed asthma therapy, shifting emphasis toward preventive pharmacology and influencing subsequent drug development in respiratory medicine.
