The bicyclam AMD3 100 story

The discovery and development of the bicyclam AMD3100 - a chemokine receptor antagonist - has highlighted the therapeutic potential of such compounds in HIV infection, inflammatory diseases, cancer and stem-cell mobilization. Here, I describe the development process of AMD3100, which began about 15 years ago with the isolation of an impurity, and the basis for the clinical application of AMD3100 and its congeners.