Time to move the goalposts? Do we need new targets for developing i.v. anaesthetics?

Time to move the goalposts? Do we need new targets for developing intravenous anaesthetics? Widespread use of intravenous hypnotics for induction of anaesthesia dates from 1934 when thiopentone was introduced. Since then a handful of agents have come and gone with only propofol and ketamine enjoying common use in addition to some residual administrations of thiopentone and etomidate, During the 30 years since propofol was introduced in 1986, number of candidate hypnotics and propofol reformulations have been evaluated but none have yet achieved commercial success or significant clinical impact. During this period developmental objectives built on the shortfalls of thiopentone listed by Dundee in 1961 with additional ambitions arising from the known limitations of propofol and increasing interest in maintenance of anaesthesia by infusion.