"Multidisciplinary teams will be the main force driving the development of the products, materials and technologies that advance civilization in the 21st century," said Eli Pearce, president of the American Chemical Society. "Individual members of the team share knowledge to achieve a common goal, achieving more than each could alone. Thus, the team becomes a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly one million people in the United States are infected with HIV/AIDS. AIDS-related deaths fell approximately 70 percent from 1995 to 1999, in part because of the introduction of a new class of drugs called protease inhibitors. These drugs are so complex, however, the pharmaceutical industry once doubted they could be produced in commercial quantities.
By redesigning the synthesis of the drug molecule's central core, the Abbott Laboratories team developed an innovative process for producing the protease inhibitor ritonavir (Norvir). This new method led to the discovery of the next-generation protease inhibitor lopinavir (Kaletra), which was approved in September 2000.
The American Chemical Society's Industrial Innovation Awards recognize individuals and teams whose discoveries and inventions contribute to the commercial success of their companies and enhance our quality of life.
Michael S. Allen, Ph.D., is a group leader at Abbott Laboratories. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Benedictine College in Lisle, Ill., in 1985 and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Wi
'"/>
Contact: Sharon Worthy
s_worthy@acs.org
202-872-4371
American Chemical Society
7-Jun-2002