IN NYC, CHEMISTS GET HEROES' WELCOME
Researchers from four drug companies are honored for their contributions to children's health

VICTORIA GILMAN, C&EN WASHINGTON

Children need heroes, as evidenced by the steady popularity of comic books and cartoons. From superpowered aliens to genetically altered teens, children thrive on stories of the brave and witty few who can routinely save the day.

What many children might not realize is that there are real-life heroes working to protect them who are worthy of as much admiration as any fictional character. Last month, the American Chemical Society honored four teams composed of 17 scientists as Heroes of Chemistry for their work developing novel and successful treatments for major childhood illnesses.

Researchers from Abbott Laboratories, Merck Research Laboratories, Pfizer, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals were recognized at the 226th ACS national meeting in New York City at a gala event on Sept. 7. ACS President Elsa Reichmanis presided over the event, which also celebrated the 80th anniversary of C&EN (C&EN, Sept. 15, page 5).

The Heroes of Chemistry program, directed by the ACS Office of Industry Member Programs, was founded in 1996 to honor industrial chemists and chemical engineers who create commercially successful products that improve quality of life. Heroes are nominated by their own companies within different themes each year. A distinguished committee of chemists selects the winners. For 2003, the program focused on chemists who are improving the health and wellness of children.

Benjamin S. Carson Sr., director of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University, gave the keynote speech at the recognition event. He applauded the efforts of the winning teams, and also talked about a need to encourage children to value academic achievers the same way they idolize sports and entertainment figures.

One team--Dale J. Kempf, Daniel W. Norbeck, and Hing L. Sham from Abbott--has made significant contributions to helping children with HIV/AIDS by developing the antiretroviral Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir). According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, one-third of the people living with the disease in 2002 were between 15 and 24 years old, and new infections for the year included an estimated 800,000 in children.

Kaletra is the first HIV protease inhibitor to receive simultaneous Food & Drug Administration approval for use both in adults and in children six months and older.

When used in combination with other antiretroviral agents, Kaletra has shown unprecedented levels of tolerance, potency, and durability. The drug has now become the number one prescribed protease inhibitor in the world.

Kempf is a senior research fellow in global pharmaceutical research and development. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1982. Norbeck is corporate vice president of global pharmaceutical discovery in global pharmaceutical research and development. He earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from California Institute of Technology in 1984. Sham, who received a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Hawaii in 1980, is director of metabolic disease research in the pharmaceutical products division.

For the 4.8 million children in the U.S. who suffer from asthma, playing outside can be more of a burden than a joy. That's why ACS honored three Merck chemists for discovering and developing Singulair, an FDA-approved treatment for asthma in adults and children as young as one year. Singulair is also approved for treating allergic rhinitis in patients two years and older.

Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that can be taken once a day to control asthma and allergy symptoms. Robert N. Young, Robert J. Zamboni, and Marc Labelle were recognized at the gala event for their work.

Young, vice president of medicinal chemistry at Merck, graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1971 with a Ph.D. in chemistry. Zamboni is vice president of medicinal chemistry and received his Ph.D. in organic synthesis from McGill University, Montreal, in 1978. Labelle is a former director of medicinal chemistry at Merck, and he now holds the same position with Tularik Inc. He earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Montreal in 1983.

Epilepsy is an alarmingly common disease in children, with 75% of all cases developing before the age of 20. To help control partial seizures caused by epilepsy, three Pfizer chemists developed Neurontin. This anticonvulsant is approved for use in patients three years and older.

Neurontin has no known reactions with most other drugs for epilepsy, an important attribute since many epileptics require multiple medications. Johannes H. Hartenstein and James R. Zeller attended the New York event to be honored for their work on the drug. Gerhard Satzinger was also honored but was unable to attend the ceremony.

Hartenstein was senior director of chemistry at Pfizer's Ann Arbor, Mich., facility and is now retired. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 1963. Satzinger, also retired, was director of research and development at the Goedecke, Germany facility. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Erlangen, Germany, in 1957. Zeller is senior director of global research and development at Holland Laboratories, in Michigan. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Wayne State University, in Detroit, in 1981.

Until recently, Streptococcus pneumoniae was a leading cause of conditions such as meningitis, blood infections, pneumonia, and middle ear inflammation in young children. If untreated or resistant to treatment, pneumococcal disease can result in hearing loss, learning disabilities, speech problems, and brain damage. Each year, pneumococcal disease kills more than 1 million children throughout the world.

A team of eight researchers at Wyeth were honored in New York for developing Prevnar, the first and only combined vaccine to help protect infants and young children against invasive pneumococcal disease. Prevnar is approved for use in infants as part of their routine vaccination schedule.

All but one of the researchers were able to attend the event. Chia-Lung Hsieh, now deceased, was vice president of vaccine development at Wyeth Lederle Vaccines. He received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Utah in 1972. His brother, Yuang-Kung Hsieh, attended the ceremony on his behalf.

Steven H. Doares is associate director of the bacterial vaccine development department. He received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Georgia in 1990. Ronald J. Eby, now retired, was distinguished research scientist and manager of the carbohydrate chemistry department. He received a Ph.D. in chemistry from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry in 1974.

Bradley E. Kosiba is director of vaccine development operations. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass., in 1981.

Maya Koster is a senior research scientist. She received her B.S. in chemistry from the University of Rochester in 1982. Kent D. Murphy is manager of technical services. He received his M.S. in chemical engineering from Manhattan College in 1986.

Velupillai Puvanesarajah is director of analytical development. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from York University, Toronto, in 1983. Dan J. Speelman is associate director of analytical development. He received his M.S. in virology from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1981.

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