Interview conducted by Professor Tilli Tansey, for the History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group, 15 July 2016, in the School of History, Queen Mary University of London. Transcribed by Mrs Debra Gee, and edited by Professor Tilli Tansey and Mr Adam Wilkinson. The technical support (filming and production) was undertaken by Mr Alan Yabsley.
Mr Wesley Miner BSc (b. 1948) is a graduate in physiology from the University of Edinburgh. From 1982 to 1986 he worked at Beecham Pharmaceuticals (GlaxoSmithKline since 2000) with Gareth Sanger. During this time, Miner and Sanger discovered, and were the first to publish that serotonin receptor type 3 (5-HT3) antagonists were extremely efficacious pharmacological agents for preventing and treating anti-cancer therapy (chemo and radiation) induced nausea and vomiting (Miner and Sanger, 1986). This seminal experimental work translated very well to the clinic when granisetron (Kytril) was shown to be highly efficacious in patients. Importantly, this discovery became one of a very select few where research into 5-HT mechanisms actually culminated in a marketable drug that markedly improved the quality of life for patients. Following this ground-breaking research at Beecham, he relocated to another major international pharmaceutical company and became a key member of the biology team that discovered darifenacin (M3 selective antimuscarinic), which is now indicated and marketed for over active bladder and urinary incontinence.
The History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group is funded by the Wellcome Trust, which is a registered charity (no. 210183). The current interview has been funded by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award entitled “Makers of modern biomedicine: testimonies and legacy” (2012-2017; awarded to Professor Tilli Tansey).
The interview is part of the History of the Modern Biomedicine Interviews (Digital Collection).
Access to the History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group’s website:
Access to the ‘Drugs and pharmacologists’ thematic group of resources:
Access to the transcript of this video interview and its related material:
History of Modern Biomedicine Interviews (Digital Collection), items e2016095-e2016105.
Example of how to cite: Tansey E M (intvr); Yabsley A (prod) (2016) Miner, Wesley: 01 - The 'All About' books and being left a lot of money (15-Jul-2016). History of Modern Biomedicine Interviews (Digital Collection), item e2016096. London: Queen Mary University of London.
Access to the transcript of a longer, audio interview:
Note: Video interviews are conducted following standard oral history methodology, and have received ethical approval (reference QMREC 0642). Video interview transcripts are edited only for clarity and factual accuracy. Related material has been deposited in the Wellcome Library.
© The Trustee of the Wellcome Trust, London, 2016
Mr Miner has contributed to our Wellcome Witness Seminars on The Discovery, Use and Impact of Platinum Salts as Chemotherapy Agents for Cancer and Drugs Affecting 5-HT Systems.
A copy of Mr Miner's curriculum vitae is available here.
