Seven topics of general interest to medicinal chemists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and clinicians are reviewed. The subjects examined are: phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitors and therapeutic potential in the treatment of asthma; the mode of action and biosynthesis of the immunosuppressant cyclosporins; the present status of carbapenems in the treatment of bacterial infection; the treatment of breast cancer by inhibiting aromatase; a new class of potentially useful antipsychotics; and the role of protein tyrosine kinases and their inhibition of cell multiplication by a wide variety of compounds.