Chemical Heritage Foundation George B. Rathmann
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CHEMICAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION GEORGE B. RATHMANN Transcript of an Interview Conducted by Arnold Thackray, Leo Slater and David Brock at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 16 and 17 September 1999 (With Subsequent Corrections and Additions) Upon George B. Rathmann’s death in 2012, this oral history was designated Free Access. Please note: Users citing this interview for purposes of publication are obliged under the terms of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) Oral History Program to credit CHF using the format below: George B. Rathmann, interview by Arnold Thackray, Leo Slater, and David Brock in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16-17 September 1999 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript # 0187). Chemical Heritage Foundation Oral History Program 315 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) serves the community of the chemical and molecular sciences, and the wider public, by treasuring the past, educating the present, and inspiring the future. CHF maintains a world-class collection of materials that document the history and heritage of the chemical and molecular sciences, technologies, and industries; encourages research in CHF collections; and carries out a program of outreach and interpretation in order to advance an understanding of the role of the chemical and molecular sciences, technologies, and industries in shaping society. GEORGE B. RATHMANN 1927 Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 25 December Education 1948 B.S., Physical Chemistry, Northwestern University 1952 Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, Princeton University Professional Experience 3M Company 1951-1955 Research Chemist 1955-1958 Research Manager 1958-1965 Research Director 1965-1969 Group Technical Director 1969-1972 Manager X-Ray Systems Litton Medical Systems, Inc. 1972-1975 President Abbott Laboratories 1975-1980 Vice President, Research and Development, Diagnostics Division Amgen, Inc. 1980-1988 Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer 1988-1990 Chairman 1990-present Chairman Emeritus ICOS Corporation 1990-2000 Chairman 1991-2000 President and Chief Executive Officer 2000-present Chairman Emeritus Hyseq, Inc. 2000-present Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Honors 1987 Gold Medallist Biotechnology CEO of the Year 1988 Gift of Life Award, Illinois Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation 1988 Annual Recognition Award, Washington, DC, National Kidney Foundation 1988 Annual Recognition Award, Los Angeles, National Kidney Foundation 1988 Gold Medallist Biotechnology CEO of the Year 1990 Entrepreneur of the Year, Los Angeles area 1992 BioPharm Achievement Award 1995 Glenn T. Seaborg Medal, UCLA 1997 California Lutheran Honorary Doctorate 1997 Bower Award for Business Leadership 1999 Biotechnology Heritage Award, Chemical Heritage Foundation and BIO ABSTRACT George Rathmann begins the interview with a discussion of his family background and childhood years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At an early age, Rathmann developed an interest in chemistry, which was partially fueled by both his elder brother and brother-in-law, who were chemists, and his high-school chemistry teacher, Mr. Leaker. After high school, Rathmann attended Northwestern University, where he later earned his B.S. in physical chemistry. After receiving his B.S., Rathmann intended to go on to medical school. However, his desire to work on the research end of medicine was strong, and he decided to continue in physical chemistry, receiving his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1952. Even before Rathmann finished his Ph.D. thesis, he was hired by 3M Company as a research chemist. In is twenty-one years with 3M, Rathmann worked in many capacities, rising through the ranks to become the Manager of X-ray Systems in 1969. Rathmann credits his nurturing and positive experience at 3M as being very influential during his future career. Rathmann left 3M in 1972 to become President of Litton Medical Systems. Disliking the environment and philosophy of Litton, Rathmann left in 1975 to join Abbott Laboratories as Vice President of Research and Development in the Diagnostics Division. Rathmann enjoyed the aspects of managing research and development initiatives. While with Abbott, Rathmann first became interested in recombinant DNA. His desire to learn more about DNA served as the impetus for his career move into the then-emerging field of biotechnology. Rathmann left Abbott and joined Amgen in 1980, where he still serves as Chairman Emeritus. As Amgen’s Chairman, President and CEO, Rathmann worked very hard to procure the venture capital needed to start-up a major biotech company. Amgen burst into the world of biotechnological discovery with Dr. Fu Kuen Lin cloning the human erythropoietin gene, which led to the development of Amgen’s Epogen and Neupogen. In 1983, Rathmann joined the Board of the newly formed Biotechnology Industry Organization [BIO], serving as Chairman in 1987-88. Working with his colleagues in the biotechnology world, Rathmann felt that his time with BIO was a great learning experience. By 1990, Rathmann felt that he had accomplished all that he could with Amgen and became Chairman of ICOS Corporation. Rathmann concludes the interview with thoughts on his years at ICOS and the future of biotechnology. INTERVIEWERS Arnold Thackray is President of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. He majored in the physical sciences before turning to the history of science, receiving a Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1966. He has held appointments at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1983 he received the Dexter Award from the American Chemical Society for outstanding contributions to the history of chemistry. He served on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania for more than a quarter of a century. There, he was the founding chairman of the Department of History and Sociology of Science, where he is the Joseph Priestley Professor Emeritus. Leo Slater is the currently the John C. Haas Fellow at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia, where he also served as Director of Historical Services from 1997 to 2000. A former research chemist at the Schering-Plough Research Institute, he received his doctorate in History from Princeton University in 1997. David C. Brock is Program Manager for Educational and Historical Services at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia. He is also currently a Ph.D. candidate in the History Department, Program in the History of Science at Princeton University. In 1995, Mr. Brock received his M.A. in the History of Science from Princeton University and in 1992, he earned a M.Sc. in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge from the University of Edinburgh. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Early Years Family background. Siblings. Interest in chemistry. High-school influences. Attending Northwestern University. Desire to attend medical school. Commitment to medical research. Family perceptions. 10 Educational Career Meeting Joy [wife]. Marriage in 1950. Experiences at Northwestern. Developing an interest in physical chemistry. Attending Princeton University. Charles Phelps Smyth. Patrick L. McGeer. Moving away from academia into industry. Paul J. Flory. 21 Early Professional Career Working at 3M Company. Poly-1,1-dihydroperfluorobutyl. Encouragement of ideas. Recognition for innovation. Scotchguard. Frank A. Bovey. Fifteen- percent mandate. Movement into management. Richard Drew. Fixed responsibility. Leaving 3M for Litton Medical Systems. Medical-imaging equipment. Becoming President of Litton. Rethinking career direction. Decision to leave Litton for Abbott Laboratories. 38 Biotechnology Beginnings Fascination with recombinant DNA. Leaving Abbott for Amgen, Inc. Obtaining venture capital. Martin Cline. Willingness to take risks. Emergence of biotechnology awareness. Cetus. Charles Weissmann. Interferon and erythropoietin. Gene Goldwasser. Scaling-up. Epogen. Working with academic institutions. Expanding research. 58 Career in Biotechnology Involvement in Biotechnology Industry Organization [BIO]. Government interaction. Educating public about biotechnology. Fostering better public understanding. Relationship between BIO and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association [PHARMA]. Developing and structuring a biotech company. Recruiting scientists. Product development and completion. Importance of internal education. Training programs. Partnerships. 80 Scientific Developments Neupogen development. Interleukin-2. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor [G-CSF] research. Food and Drug Administration. Importance of venture capitalists. Robert Swanson. Patenting issues. 93 Conclusion Leaving Amgen for ICOS Corporation. Raising money. Future of biotechnology. 100 Notes 101 Index INTERVIEWEE: George B. Rathmann INTERVIEWERS: Arnold Thackray, Leo Slater, and David Brock LOCATION: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania DATE: 16 and 17 September 1999 THACKRAY: George, we really would like to begin by talking not so much about you, but about your father, mother, and family background. Can you start there? RATHMANN: Sure. I knew them both! [laughter] I was born in 1927, and I was the fourth in a family of four kids. I was a pretty late arrival. My father was forty at the time I was born and I was the fourth of a brother and two sisters. My mother and father had a relatively limited education. My mother actually went to a finishing school overseas, her maiden name was Blatz. She was from a very prominent